Final
Programme
Schedule
Themes
Setting
Registration
and Fieldtrips
Hotel
Enquiries
5-9th December 2000, National University of Singapore
EXCITING CONFERENCE PHOTOS!!! Click me
For CONFERENCE REPORT by Kris Olds, Click me
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2nd GCEG 2007 Beijing website here
3rd GCEG 2011 Seoul website here
4th GCEG 2015 Oxford website here
5th GCEG 2018 Cologne website here
6th GCEG 2021 Dublin, 22-25 June, website (available soon)
Standing Committee of the Global Conference on Economic Geography announced at 5th GCEG 2018 in Cologne.
We are building a new website to host all past and future GCEGs and will announce in due course when it is ready. Please continue to access www.gceg.org
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Website here: Programme
Download files
here: Introduction
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Conference
Rationale
There
are few opportunities for "economic geographers" (broadly
defined) to engage in genuinely global dialogue. In the context
of globalising tendencies in the world economy, such dialogue
is increasingly important for it facilitates the development
of knowledge, and the establishment of international collaborative
relations for both teaching and research. Such dialogue also
requires economic geographers to face head on the complex issues
of vantage point and ethnocentric bias.
We believe the timing is appropriate for a global conference
on economic geography. As one of the key sub-disciplines
in Geography, it is time to discuss and debate current research
agendas in economic geography. It is also a critical time to
rethink the relationship between the sub-discipline (within human
geography) and the wider social science community; a "project"
invigorated by the recent collection Geographies of Economies (eds. Roger Lee and
Jane Wills, 1997, Arnold), and the American Association of Geographers
Economic Geography Specialty GroupÌs initiatives (details
available at http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/~wwwgeog/aagecon.html).
In organising this global conference on economic geography, we
have three specific objectives:
- The conference will provide a forum for constructive cross-regional dialogue among economic geographers from all regions and countries. Such dialogue is critical for the advancement of the subject.
- The conference will provide an opportunity for economic geographers from outside Asia to interact with geographers and other interested social scientists from within the host region. While acknowledging the Anglo-American influence in much of the recent work in economic geography, we recognise that there is a considerable stock of knowledge in the Asian region that contributes to our understanding of regional and global economic geographies. In short, the conference will enhance the global interdependence of networks of economic geographers.
- The conference
and its associated activities will enable economic geographers
from outside the Asian region to experience (first-hand) the
dynamics of economic transformations in Singapore and Southeast
Asia. Through carefully designed field trips, both within and
outside of Singapore, the conference will offer insightful educational
experiences that can be brought home for the benefits of students
and institutions.
Conference
Format and Schedule
Conference
sessions will take place from 6 to 8 December 2000 on the campus
of the National University of Singapore. The conference will
consist of plenary panels, special sessions organised by various
Economic Geography Study Groups of geographical societies, general
sessions made up of submitted papers, and discussion roundtables.
We also welcome proposals for other formats and styles of presentation
(e.g., multimedia shows, performances).
Fieldtrips will take place on 5 December (Johor/Batam) and 9
December (Singapore).
Four plenary speakers have been confirmed:
- Ash Amin (University
of Durham, England);
- Trevor Barnes
(University of British Columbia, Canada);
- Walden Bello
(FOCUS on the Global South, Thailand);
- Katherine Gibson (The Australian National University, Australia).
The specific titles of their talks will be announced in due course.
Organiser
Department
of Geography, National University of Singapore, in collaboration
with economic geography study groups of Association of American
Geographers, Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British
Geographers, Institute of Australian Geographers, International
Geographical Union and Commonwealth Geographical Bureau.
Conference Organising
Committee
- Tim Bunnell (National University of Singapore)
- Neil Coe (National University of Singapore)
- Philip Kelly (National University of Singapore)
- Andrew Marton (University of Nottingham)
- Kris Olds (National University of Singapore)
- Martin Perry (National University of Singapore)
- Jessie Poon (University of Buffalo-SUNY)
- K. Raguraman (National University of Singapore)
- Henry Wai-chung Yeung (National University of Singapore)
Conference
Setting in Singapore
The
conference will be held in the city-state of Singapore. Situated
at one of the most important cross-roads in Asia, Singapore is
a unique blend of "East" and "West", the
product of an evolving constellation of local, regional and global
social and economic networks. Singapore is made up of over three
million Chinese, Indian, Malay and Eurasians, along with a huge
temporary migrant labour force of approximately 600,000 people.
English is spoken everywhere, and is the common language for
business, government, and education. There are a wide variety
of reasonably priced hotels offering good standards of service
and hospitality. Singapore is also well-known for offering an
incredible range of culinary experiences - from basic hawker
or Western fast food options, to elegant Thai, Chinese, French
and Italian restaurants. The climate is warm and welcoming with
temperatures ranging from 23C at night to 32C in the day at this
time of the year. Select information on Singapore for tourists
is available at http://www.newasia-singapore.com, http://asiatravel.com/singinfo.html and http://www.makansutra.com.sg/.
As noted above, field trips will be conducted to specific sites
in Singapore, as well as nearby parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.
Of course participants are encouraged to use this conference
to embark upon more lengthy trips throughout the Asia-Pacific
region.
Registration
Details and Form
If you
have not done so, please complete the following registration
form (click
here).
In addition, ALL participants are required to submit an abstract
of 100 words (maximum) by 30 April 2000. We strongly encourage
you to submit your abstract via email (both in-email-text and
as an attachment). Upon receipt of the abstract, we will issue
an acceptance letter in electronic form in the first instance.
Please let us know if you require the acceptance letter in printed
form.
Registration and
Field Trip Fees
The
conference registration fee is S$170 (approximately US$100),
inclusive of three lunches and all tea/coffee sessions.
The charges for each field trip destination are:
- Singapore (on Saturday 9 December) for S$25 (including a lunch);
- Either Johore, Malaysia (on Tuesday 5 December) for S$35 (including a lunch) or Batam, Indonesia (on Tuesday 5 December) for S$70 (including a lunch)
Please issue a bank draft from your local bank in Singapore Dollars and make it payable to "National University of Singapore". Your payment should reach us by 31 August 2000.
Note: All refund after 31
August 2000 will be subject to a 50% surcharge to cover administrative
and bank draft costs.
Details of fieldtrips:
Johor, Malaysia: from
Agricultural Dependence to Export-Manufacturing Region
Organizer: Tim Bunnell
<geotgb@nus.edu.sg>
Tuesday 5th December (whole day) Cost: S$35 (lunch included)
Johor is Peninsula Malaysia's
southern-most state and forms part of the Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia
Growth Triangle. The southern part of the state has undergone
dramatic urban expansion and economic transformation since the
mid-1980s. The fieldtrip is designed to give delegates an overview
of state economic development as well as in-depth insights into
key industries. A briefing by Johor Corporation on state and
regional economic development in the state capital, Johor Bahru,
will be followed by a visit to Pasir Gudang township and an oil
palm complex. Pasir Gudang includes port facilities and has been
a focus for new industrial activity as the state has encouraged
its use as a shipping alternative to Singapore. The importance
of primary commodity exports in Malaysia is a colonial legacy
but oil palm, in particular, remains a significant component
of Johor's contemporary economic landscape.
PLEASE NOTE: Citizens of some countries may need a visa to enter
Malaysia. It is your responsibility to arrange for the visa,
and to ensure that you are allowed to reenter Singapore after
leaving the country for the day.
Exploring the Diverse
Industrial Landscapes of Singapore*** Note: The Singapore fieldtrip
is NOW FULL. Please do not send any further payments.
Organiser: K. Raguraman
Krishnas <geokrk@nus.edu.sg>
Date: Saturday 9th December (morning only) Cost: S$25 (lunch
included)
The fieldtrip will begin
with a bus-ride to one of the government organisations involved
in economic and industrial planning in Singapore. Officials there
will provide a brief presentation on the evolution of the industrial
landscape in Singapore over the past 30 years. This will be followed
by a guided tour of various industrial sites in Singapore, including
business parks, science parks and other planned industrial estates.
This will give participants an opportunity to appreciate the
changing character of industrial land use in Singapore. The tour
will end with lunch at a local restaurant.
Industrialising Indonesia:
economic and social dimensions of rapid development on Batam
Organiser: Philip Kelly
<pfkelly@yorku.ca>
Date: Tuesday 5th December (whole day) Cost: S$70 (lunch included)
Batam Island is located
south of Singapore in Indonesia's Riau archipelago. Over the
last decade it has seen very rapid growth in population as migrants
have come from across the country to work in industrial estates
and other new employment opportunities. While industrial estates
and commercial developments are burgeoning, many social problems,
such as housing provision, remain unresolved. The fieldtrip will
involve a 45 minute ferry ride to the island and visits to the
Batam Industrial Development Authority, the Batamindo Industrial
Estate, the factory of a multinational corporation located in
the industrial estate, and a 'squatter' settlement currently
being formalized. In each case there will be a brief presentation
and opportunities for discussion.
PLEASE NOTE: Citizens of some countries will need a visa to enter
Indonesia. It is your responsibility to arrange for the visa,
and to ensure that you are allowed to reenter Singapore after
leaving the country for the day.
When submitting registration fees, please make it very clear which fieldtrips you have selected (NOTE: it is not possible to go to Johor AND Batam), and add the appropriate amount to your basic registration.
Numbers for these fieldtrips are limited, so please register for the conference and fieldtrips through the conference secretary (Henry Yeung) as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Payment details are provided in the letter acknowledging receipt of your abstract or on the conference webpage. It is also important to note that it will not be possible to sign up for the fieldtrips upon arrival in Singapore.
Information
on Hotel Accommodation for Conference Delegates
We have
negotiated special rates for delegates at two hotels. These special
rates will only apply if there are a minimum number of rooms
booked. We therefore advise delegates to make their arrangements
as soon as possible to ensure that these concessionary rates
are maintained.
Please note
the conference organisers will not be involved in arranging accommodation
at these hotels for delegates. To acquire these concessionary
rates please mention "Global Conference on Economic Geography"
in all your communication with the hotels.
Merchant Court Hotel
S$135 per
room in superior accommodation + 14% service charges & taxes,
including free daily transport from the hotel to the conference
venue.
This hotel is located close to Chinatown and the Singapore River.
A single taxi fare from the hotel to the university will cost
approximately S$10.
Contact: Gino Tan E-mail: ginotan@merchantcourt.com.sg (fax: (65) 334-0606)
or resvn@merchantcourt.com.sg or fax: 65-336-9993)
for reservation. See http://www.merchantcourthotels.com for further information
on the hotel.
RELC International
Hotel
S$82 per
room + 13% service charges & taxes, including American breakfast.
This hotel is located close to Orchard Road. A single taxi fare
from the hotel to the university will cost approximately S$10.
Contact: Winston Leow E mail relcih@singnet.com.sg (fax: (65) 733-9976).
See http://www.hotel-web.com for further information
on the hotel.
Public transport via bus and MRT is also available from both
hotel locations, although in both cases there is no direct service
to NUS. The distance to the university is approximately 10 km
and involves a 20 minute taxi ride. Hotels will supply information
on transport to NUS.
NUS Visitors Lodge
(Please note that the
Lodge booking is fully taken up for the moment. We will notify
if more vacancies are available)
In addition
to the downtown hotels we have reserved a number of rooms in
the Visitors Lodge sited on the University campus. The room charge
is S$66.95 per night, for either twin sharing or single occupancy.
Delegates wishing to stay at the Visitors Lodge should send their
name, address (postal, fax & e mail), room preference and period
of stay to Dr Martin Perry, Department of Geography, National
University of Singapore, e-mail geomp@nus.edu.sg.
Bookings for the Visitors Lodge must be made by 30 October
2000. Payment will be the responsibility of delegates direct
to the Visitors Lodge upon arrival. Late cancellations are subject
to a financial penalty.
For information on other hotels in Singapore see http://www.singapore-hotel.com/, http://www.accomline.com/singapore.htm; http://asiatravel.com/singapore.html, or http://singapore.asia-hotels.com/.
Enquiries and Further Information
Please direct
all your enquiries and requests to either:
Dr. Kris OLDS
Chair, Organising Committee
Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1
Arts Link, Singapore 117570 Tel: 65-874 6811; Fax: 65-7773091;
E-mail: geoko@nus.edu.sg
OR
Dr Henry Wai-Chung YEUNG
Secretary, Organising Committee
Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1
Arts Link, Singapore 117570 Tel: 65-874-6810; Fax:
65-777-3091; E-mail: geoywc@nus.edu.sg
This page is maintained by Henry Yeung. Last updated 20 June
2001