Leaders from around the globe are meeting in Davos, Switzerland this week for the World Economic Forum‘s annual meeting.
Starting on Sunday, the conference will host nearly 2,500 leaders from politics, business, civil society and media are attending.
With a theme of History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies, it will be the first in-person annual meeting for more than two years in the Swiss mountain village.
Over the past two years, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has strengthened its impact initiatives, which deal with issues ranging from Covid-19 and climate change to education as well as technology and energy governance.
More than 50 heads of state and government are expected to join the five-day meeting, among the 300 government representatives, to share their vision for the world.
“We are seeing challenges mounting from supply chain disruptions, to tectonic shifts in labour markets, to inflation figures which are of concern to policy-makers and individuals alike,” said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum.
“The year ahead is a crucial one to work together, rebuild trust and shape a better and more inclusive future for all.”
More than 1,250 leaders from the private sector will be participating, along with nearly 100 global innovators and technology pioneers – described as the world’s most promising tech and business start-ups and scale-ups.
Previous celebrity guests have included US billionaire Bill Gates, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Facebook COO Sherly Sandberg and U2 lead singer Bono.
This year, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US climate envoy John Kerry, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are among the big names attending.
From the UAE, a number of ministers are expected to be in Davos including Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
Qatar’s deputy prime minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is also expected to attend.
With climate change such a focus across the globe, the forum aims to reduce the CO2 emissions of all its activities. Since 2017, all emissions are calculated and offset 100 percent by supporting environmental projects in Switzerland and abroad.
The WEF, a non-profit organisation, says the high-level talks from global decision-makers aim to “engage the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas”.
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