Global Trade, AI Investment and Economic Resilience Take Center Stage at International Policy Forums
Steven Altman has concluded a series of high-level international engagements focused on globalization, trade, artificial intelligence, and economic resilience across major global institutions in Washington, Geneva, and St. Gallen.
Altman, who also serves as Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization at New York University Stern School of Business, participated in multiple conferences and expert forums over a 10-day period, engaging with policymakers, economists, academics, and business leaders on evolving global trade dynamics.
Among the key events was the DHL Forum 2026, where leaders from business, government, and policy sectors gathered to discuss emerging issues affecting international trade and global value chains.
Altman also attended the UNCTAD Multi-year Expert Meeting on Investment, Innovation and Entrepreneurship hosted by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), where he presented research on artificial intelligence-related greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI) and its implications for economic development.
The discussions brought together diplomats, scholars, and industry experts examining the opportunities and risks associated with global investment flows and innovation-driven growth.
At the St. Gallen Symposium in St. Gallen, Altman led a panel discussion titled “Globalisation in the Crossfire – Chokepoints, Resilience, and Renewal,” alongside international experts examining geopolitical tensions, supply chain resilience, and the future of globalization.
He later returned to UNCTAD to deliver a seminar exploring trends in international flows and globalization patterns, focusing on how global economic integration is evolving amid shifting geopolitical and technological realities.
Altman also met with economists and statisticians at the World Trade Organization to exchange research findings, discuss trade data tools, and examine alternative data sources relevant to current trade policy debates.
The trip concluded with discussions at the Asian Development Bank, where Altman met with development specialists to explore the use of multi-regional input-output data in globalization and trade research.
The engagements reflect growing international attention on the intersection of artificial intelligence, trade policy, investment flows, and economic resilience as institutions worldwide adapt to rapid changes in the global economy.