Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum (WEF), is proposing a transfer of the organization’s land holdings in Cologny, Switzerland, to public ownership in an effort to secure the forum’s future within the country. The move, revealed in an interview with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, aims to prevent a potential relocation of the WEF to locations such as Singapore or the United States.
Schwab, who stepped down as chairman of the WEF last year, suggested transferring the valuable property at the WEF headquarters in exchange for a lifetime right of use by the public sector, thereby removing the possibility of real estate speculation. “It is important to me that the forum and the foundation I founded remain true to their mission and to Switzerland,” Schwab stated, according to the NZZ interview.
The proposal comes as Schwab approaches his 88th birthday at the complete of the month. He expressed a desire for the WEF to remain rooted in Switzerland, acknowledging past considerations of alternative locations. “We have thought about places like Singapore or Dubai, but not as a replacement for Davos, but only as alternatives in an emergency, if access to Davos were not possible for any reason,” Schwab explained to the NZZ.
Davos, according to Schwab, has always embodied the concept of a global village and remains the ideal venue for the WEF’s annual meeting. He recalled a one-time relocation of the meeting to New York City in 2002, following the September 11th attacks, as an act of solidarity, but noted that the focus during that meeting was solely on the crisis of the moment, rather than future-oriented discussions.
Schwab also articulated his desired legacy, stating he wished to be remembered as someone who recognized that a company is not merely an economic production unit, but a social organism with societal obligations. He further emphasized the need for broad participation in global cooperation, stating, “Future global cooperation will not operate if it is limited to governments alone. All actors in society must be involved.”
The Swiss embassy in Singapore represents Switzerland’s interests in the country and provides consular services, including visa support, for residents of Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. The WEF has previously engaged with Singaporean business leaders, with founder Klaus Schwab serving as the guest of honor at a luncheon hosted by the Swiss Ambassador to Singapore, Thomas Kupfer, with presidents and CEOs of major Singaporean companies, according to a post on the embassy’s Facebook page.
As of today, the Swiss government has not publicly responded to Schwab’s proposal regarding the transfer of the WEF’s land holdings.
