14th ICBED Successfully Concludes in New York
The 14th International Conference on Business and Economic Development (ICBED), themed "Promoting Innovation and Sustainability," concluded successfully on April 8 at the Marriott New York JFK Airport Hotel. This esteemed gathering, jointly hosted by the Centre for Business and Economic Research (CBER) and Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York, attracted over 100 participants from 19 countries, underscoring its growing global significance. The two-day conference, held from April 7-8, 2025, served as a premier platform for scholarly discourse and industry collaboration.
At the 14th International Conference on Business & Economic Development, Professor Deepraj Mukherjee of Kent State University delivered a compelling keynote on the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI). He explored AI’s far-reaching impact across industries, from enhancing supply chain efficiency and market analytics to managing risk. Notably, global investment in AI is expected to approach $826 billion by 2030, with ChatGPT currently leading in AI tool adoption. While AI presents significant opportunities, Mukherjee also highlighted the environmental and ethical concerns it raises, such as energy consumption, carbon emissions, data privacy, and algorithmic bias.
The conference also focused on the critical challenges and opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Participants emphasised the importance of fostering innovation through "triple helix" collaborations—partnerships among industry, government, and academia. These collaborations, paired with targeted government policies, were seen as vital to boosting SME resilience and innovation. The discussion also addressed how crises often catalyse diversification in small economies, shifting from related to unrelated sectors as a survival strategy. Additionally, the role of knowledge-intensive services and increased investment in research and development were highlighted as key drivers of long-term innovation and competitiveness within SME clusters.
Among the distinguished speakers were Prof. Dr. Alan Parkinson, Deputy Director (Education) and Principal Teaching Fellow at the School of Management, University College London, UK; Dr. Tracy Harrell Dunn, Dean of the Burroughs School of Business & Entrepreneurship, Benedict College, Columbia, USA; Dr. JoAnn Rolle, Former Dean of the School of Business at Medgar Evers College, CUNY, USA, and Managing Partner at J. D. Rolle & Associates, LLC, New Jersey, USA; Dr. Terrence Richard Blackman of Medgar Evers College, City University of New York, USA; Prof. Carin-Isabel Knoop, Executive Director at Harvard Business School’s Case Research & Writing Group and author of Compassionate Management of Mental Health in the Modern Workplace (Springer, 2018); and Prof. (Dr.) Deepraj Mukherjee of Kent State University, USA.
The conference featured several specialised workshops, including sessions on Subconscious Energy Healing Therapy (SEHT) and Responsible AI and Applying Emerging Technologies to Enhance Education and Learning: AI Facilitating Digital Capabilities. These workshops provided participants with valuable insights into cutting-edge developments shaping the future of education, business, and economic frameworks.
Dr. P. R. Datta, Co-Chair of the conference and Executive Chair of the Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), UK, emphasised the event's crucial role in fostering significant research and career development opportunities for scholars and professionals worldwide. During his opening address he made the following remarks “as we embark on this exciting conference, let us remember that our collective efforts can inspire progress, spark change, and create a lasting impact. Let us approach the coming days with an open mind, a spirit of collaboration, and a commitment to excellence.”
Delivering the opening address, Honorary President of the conference, Prof. Zulema Blair, Dean of the Business School at Medgar Evers College, City University of New York, USA, highlighted the importance of global collaboration. She remarked, “The 14th International Conference on Business and Economic Development is pivotal in addressing the critical challenges of our interconnected world. By bringing together leading experts, policymakers, and industry leaders, this conference provides a unique platform for sharing insights and strategies to shape a more resilient and equitable global economy.”
The conference project Director Dr Bonya Chakraborty, made the following remarks during concluding session “ The discussions held here not only influence academic thought but also directly impact the development of policies and practices that will drive sustainable economic growth and innovation in the years to come.”
Over the course of two days, the conference facilitated engaging discussions on diverse topics, including sustainable development, technological innovation, and economic resilience. Scholars and professionals exchanged valuable insights, contributing to a deeper understanding of how to navigate and restructure the global economy amid contemporary challenges.
As the conference concluded, participants left with renewed perspectives and a collective commitment to addressing pressing economic issues. A strong sense of optimism pervaded the closing session, reinforcing a shared vision for a more sustainable and equitable global economy.
The 14th ICBED has once again affirmed its status as a premier forum for thought leaders and policymakers dedicated to shaping the future of global economic structures.
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