The curtain opens today on the 54th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland with 2,800 participants flocking to the snowy Alps.
The annual meeting, which will last until January 19, will host heads of government from more than 100 countries, as well as all representatives of major international organizations. High-ranking industry executives, news agencies, and members of civil society will also be present.
This year’s theme of the World Economic Forum is “Rebuilding Trust”.
The conference is essentially divided into four categories: achieving security and cooperation in a fragmented world, creating growth and jobs for a new era, artificial intelligence as a driver for the economy and society, and a long-term climate strategy, nature and energy.
“We face a fragmented world and growing social divisions, leading to widespread uncertainty and pessimism. We must rebuild trust in our future by moving beyond crisis management, addressing the root causes of today’s problems and building a more promising future together,” said Klaus Schwab, the forum’s founder in the early 1970s and executive chairman of the organism.
High on the agenda of the discussions will be the issue of Ukraine.
A day before the official opening of the annual World Economic Forum, Ukraine and Switzerland are hosting about 120 national security advisers for the fourth round of the meeting on peace in Ukraine. The warring country’s president presented a 10-point peace plan to end hostilities.
Russia is not participating in the talks. The Moscow government rejected the peace plan, saying it would be impossible to implement.
The war Israel – Hamas and the Houthis
The attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthis underscore the dangers of war between Israel and Hamas, threatening to add further fuel to the already tense situation in the Middle East.
So far, fears that the Oct. 7 attacks would lead to a repeat of the 1973 energy shock — a fourfold increase in the cost of crude — have proved unfounded, in part because demand for oil has been weak, but also because fighting has been contained. largely in Gaza.
The long rerouting of cargo ships around the Cape of Good Hope has given a glimpse of what could happen if war spreads to Lebanon.
The World Economic Forum’s annual global risk report is dominated by fears that artificial intelligence will be used for nefarious purposes and that time is running out to prevent global warming from reaching a tipping point.
Events in the Middle East have attracted the interest of the international community while the Ukraine-Russia war rages. Tomorrow the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will take the podium of the World Economic Forum.
Four days earlier, the United Kingdom announced an increase in its military aid to 2.5 billion pounds from April, 200 million pounds more than in previous years.
In addition to Zelensky, this year’s Davos will be attended by more than 60 heads of state and government, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Argentina’s controversial new president, Javier Millay.
China’s leader Xi Jinping will not attend, but Beijing will send a large delegation led by Premier Li Qiang.
However, the Chinese premier’s speech will come under the microscope to probe Beijing’s intentions with Washington as the Chinese government goes through a cold period in its relations with the US.
Macron is the only G7 leader to go to the Swiss mountain resort, while last year only German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was from the alliance.
Some have speculated that politicians are increasingly wary of attending the event amid the ongoing cost of living crisis and the issues they have to deal with at home.
Joe Biden has not attended since becoming US president, as has UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
But many other leaders and finance ministers will be going this year, from Spain, Belgium, Colombia, Iraq, Lebanon, Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria, Thailand, Singapore and beyond.
From the US, participants include Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Councilor Jake Sullivan.
Argentine President Javier Millay, with his sharp tongue, may provoke the international community with his scheduled speech on Wednesday. The right-wing president-elect has sparked protests in his country by announcing a series of shock economic policies, including a sharp devaluation of the currency. He has also promised to dollarize the economy and abolish the central bank.
Among the big names from the business world, many will no doubt be keen to hear from Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, who is scheduled to discuss security and trust in technology alongside other speakers such as UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt and Pfizer CEO Albert Burla.
Leading figures in the global economy will make their usual appearances, from the head of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, to the president of the World Bank, Ajay S. Banga, and the director-general of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
But also heads of international organizations and civil society groups will be present, such as António Guterres of the UN and Jens Stoltenberg of NATO.
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