Global Business Week 2025: Charting the Future

Malé, Maldives – July 7-15, 2025 – The 25th anniversary of Global Business Week (GBW), the premier gathering of the international business elite, concluded triumphantly on July 15th, 2025, against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldives. Held from July 7th to 15th across several idyllic island resorts, this landmark edition successfully blended high-level strategic discourse with unparalleled networking opportunities, solidifying its status as the indispensable forum for shaping the future of global commerce.

Celebrating a quarter-century of fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth, GBW 2025 lived up to its prestigious reputation. Over 250 top entrepreneurs, visionary CEOs, influential investors, and leading innovators from more than 35 nations converged in this tropical paradise. The stunning setting of turquoise waters, pristine beaches, and luxurious resorts provided more than just scenery; it fostered a unique atmosphere of openness, collaboration, and forward-thinking energy.

How US Tariffs on China Reshaped Financial Flows: Short-Term Gains vs. Long-Term Risks

By Professor Andrew Azarov, Business and Economics, International Business academy Consortium (UK)

The recent escalation of US tariffs on Chinese goods has done more than just increase prices—it has fundamentally shifted how financial flows move between corporations, the federal government, and international suppliers. While Washington now collects billions in tariff revenue directly from importers, this policy has also reshaped the profitability of US companies, the cost burden for consumers, and the long-term structure of global trade.

The Old Model: How US Firms Benefited Before Tariffs

Before the recent wave of tariffs, American companies enjoyed a relatively predictable flow of trade and taxation:

• US companies imported goods from China and resold them domestically.
• Profits stayed in the private sector, taxed later through corporate income tax.
• Consumers benefited from low-cost imports.
• The government collected revenue primarily through conventional taxation rather than trade barriers.

This system allowed for stable margins for US companies, which, in turn, contributed to federal revenue via traditional tax mechanisms.

US Companies Slash Investments in China Amid Record-Low Confidence

By Professor Andrew Azarov, Business and Economics, International Business academy Consortium (UK)

According to a recent survey by the US-China Business Council (USCBC), American companies’ investment plans in China have plunged to record lows in 2025: only 48% of firms intend to invest in the country, compared with 80% in 2024 (weforum.org). This marks the lowest level since the survey began in 2006 (taipeitimes.com, apnews.com).

Conducted between March and May 2025, the survey of 130 major US firms revealed a sharp decline in optimism. Investment scale is shrinking, and prospects for a recovery in US-China relations remain bleak. Many companies have already shifted into a “risk-mitigation mode” — freezing investments and reassessing strategies (apnews.com).

🌐 Tariff Surge and Political Turbulence 

• Tariffs have spiked since April, rising from 25% to 50% in certain categories (ainvest.com, barrons.com, ft.com).
• In USCBC’s survey, tariffs have jumped from 8th to 2nd place among business concerns, second only to overall bilateral tensions. In 2024, tariffs were only ranked eighth (weforum.org).
• Nearly 70% of firms are directly affected by tariffs, while 88% cite the deteriorating relationship as a major challenge (weforum.org).
• Over one-third of companies report sales losses from US tariffs; 27% have been hit by Chinese tariffs — up 21 percentage points year on year (weforum.org).

Although negotiations in Geneva and London brought temporary relief through partial tariff rollbacks, the absence of a long-term settlement leaves businesses facing deep uncertainty (apnews.com, deccanchronicle.com).

Ukraine: Military Drone Innovation (2025)

How a Nation at War Became the Global Leader in Military Drone Innovation (2022–2025)

Between 2022 and 2025, the world witnessed a seismic shift in the global defence landscape. What began as a desperate response to full-scale invasion has transformed Ukraine into the undisputed world leader in military drone technology.

Today, no serious military strategy is complete without Ukrainian drones, and nations that once dominated the arms race — the United States, China, and russia — are now recalibrating their defence systems to match Ukraine’s innovations. This is the story of how a war-torn nation became the engine of 21st-century warfare — and why the future of defence technology now has a Ukrainian signature.

 

Stage 1: Necessity Ignites Innovation (2022)

When russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine faced overwhelming odds. Outnumbered in the air and on the ground, it was clear that conventional warfare would not suffice.

Within weeks, engineers, IT professionals, and university students began forming informal drone workshops, repurposing commercial drones for reconnaissance and even improvised attacks. These grassroots efforts evolved into a national movement:

• Crowdfunded drone production
• Rapid prototyping from civilian garages and university labs
• Real-time feedback from the battlefield to developers
• What the world saw as desperation was, in fact, the birth of a new military-industrial paradigm.

Ukraine's victory is not just military, but economic, technological, and moral.

UKRAINE MATTERS: The World’s Arsenal of Food, Freedom & Future Technology

In an era marked by rapid geopolitical shifts and global uncertainty, Ukraine has emerged not only as a resilient nation defending its sovereignty but as a strategic epicentre of innovation, resources, and democratic strength. The full-scale war unleashed by Russia in 2022 tested Ukraine’s endurance, but instead of collapse, Ukraine ignited a technological and economic awakening that inspired the world.

 
A Global Food Powerhouse

Often called "the breadbasket of Europe," Ukraine possesses unmatched agricultural capacity:

• 1st in Europe in arable land (with over 30% of the world's most fertile black soil)
• Feeds over 600 million people — enough to nourish all of Europe
• 1st in global exports of sunflower oil
• Top 5 globally in wheat, corn, barley, potatoes, and honey
• 5th in global bee production (75,000 tons annually)

Despite relentless attacks on its infrastructure and farmlands, Ukrainian farmers continued to sow and harvest, defying missiles and landmines, feeding nations far beyond its borders. Ukraine’s food security leadership now forms part of the global strategy against hunger and political dependency.

A Nation of Rich Resources

Turkmen Elegance on the Global Runway: Jennet Agayeva Fashion Show 2025

Jennet Agayeva Makes Fashion History at WORLD WOMAN FORUM 2025

At the heart of the WORLD WOMAN FORUM 2025, held during the iconic GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK in the Maldives, history was made as Jennet Agayeva, a young and visionary fashion designer from Turkmenistan, stepped onto the global stage with her debut international collection.

With grace, originality, and cultural pride, Jennet Agaeva became the first designer to officially represent Turkmenistan in the global fashion industry — a momentous achievement not only for her career but for her nation.

Her collection, met with admiration and awe, featured handmade embroidery on traditional Turkmen dresses, reimagined through modern silhouettes and global fashion aesthetics. Each piece told a story of heritage, elegance, and contemporary reinterpretation, bridging centuries-old craftsmanship with today's haute couture expression.

The show was made even more powerful by the choice of models: renowned women from different countries around the world proudly wore Jennet’s creations, symbolising the universal beauty and global appeal of Turkmen culture. Their presence on the runway demonstrated solidarity with a young designer’s bold vision and an entire nation’s artistic heritage.

From intricate detailing to vibrant colours and rich textures, Jennet Agaeva’s work highlighted the timeless power of national identity in a modern world — proving that traditional fashion can thrive on the global runway without losing its soul.

The fashion show was one of the standout moments of the WORLD WOMAN FORUM, underlining the event’s mission to celebrate female talent, cultural diversity, and entrepreneurship across borders.

As Turkmenistan makes its mark on the international fashion map, Jennet Agayeva stands as a symbol of bold creativity and cultural diplomacy, bringing her homeland’s artistry to the forefront of global admiration.

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Global Business Week | WORLD WOMAN FORUM 2025
Maldives, July 2025

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