The 2024 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is starting today in Davos, Switzerland.
The five-day event tagged ‘Davos 2024’ is the 54th annual meeting of the international non-governmental organisation.
Under the theme ‘Rebuilding Trust’, the meeting aims to restore collective agency and reinforce the fundamental principles of transparency, consistency and accountability among leaders.
More than 300 public figures will participate this year, including more than 60 heads of state and government, according to a statement.
“At a time when global challenges require urgent solutions, innovative public-private collaboration is necessary to convert ideas into action,” the statement said.
It said the forum provides the structure for developing research, alliances and frameworks that promote mission-driven cooperation throughout the year.
“The meeting will serve as an accelerator of that cooperation, deepening connections between leaders and between initiatives.”
According to WEF, throughout the week, sessions will feature the latest proposals for progress on global security, trade, economic growth, jobs, climate and nature action, the energy transition, technological disruption, and health and well-being.
Top political leaders expected at the event are Li Qiang, premier of the People’s Republic of China; Emmanuel Macron, president of France; Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission; Javier Milei, president of Argentina; Han Duck-soo, prime minister of the Republic of Korea; Pedro Sánchez, prime minister of Spain and Viola Amherd, president of the Swiss Confederation 2024 and Federal Councillor of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports.
Others are Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine; Alexander De Croo, prime minister of Belgium; Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, president of Colombia; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of Greece; Mohammed Shyaa Al Sudani, prime minister of Iraq and Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach of Ireland
Heads of international organisations are also expected at the event. Some are António Guterres, United Nations secretary-general; Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of International Monetary Fund; Ajay Banga, president of World Bank Group, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of World Trade Organisation and Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The meeting is organised around four areas such as achieving security and cooperation in fractured world, Artificial Intelligence as a driving force for the economy and society, creating growth and jobs for a new era and a long-term strategy for climate, nature and energy for climate.
