The forthcoming World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 is set to commence in Davos, Switzerland, starting Monday. A gathering of more than 2800 leaders, including 60 heads of state and government officials, is anticipated for a comprehensive five-day discussion covering political, business, cultural, and global issues. India is poised to make a substantial impact, with three union ministers, three chief ministers, and over a hundred CEOs in attendance.
In its 54th edition, the event will scrutinize pressing global issues, ranging from climate change and artificial intelligence challenges to economic intricacies and ongoing geopolitical conflicts such as the Ukraine War and Israel-Hamas tensions. Esteemed personalities like Li Qiang, Emmanuel Macron, António Guterres, Kristalina Georgieva, Ajay S. Banga, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are among the notable participants.
Davos 2024 Focus: Revitalizing Foundational Principles
Scheduled from January 15 to 19, 2024, against the scenic backdrop of the Swiss Alpine School in Davos, the 54th annual meeting adopts a theme centered on returning to fundamental principles. Emphasizing open and constructive dialogue among government, business, and civil society leaders, the forum aims to navigate the intricacies of the current environmental landscape and provide insights through advancements in society, technology, science, and industry.
Key Focus Areas at Davos 2024:
- Achieving Security and Cooperation amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions: Addressing security crises, including the Middle East situation, while identifying areas for cooperation to ensure mutual benefits for all stakeholders.
- Creating Growth and Jobs for a New Era: Collaborating on a new economic framework to prevent a decade of low growth and prioritize individual well-being, minimizing trade-offs and maximizing synergies.
- Artificial Intelligence as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society: Finding ways to harness AI for the benefit of all and exploring its interaction with transformative technologies like 5/6G, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
- A Long-Term Strategy for Climate, Nature, and Energy: Developing a comprehensive, long-term approach to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and promoting a nature-positive world. Strategies include ensuring affordable, secure, and inclusive access to energy, food, and water.
Davos 2024 Day-wise Plan: Leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will deliver speeches on Tuesday, January 16. Subsequent days will feature addresses from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, new Argentine President Javier Milei, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The final day, Thursday, January 18, will include remarks from Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shyaa Al Sudani, and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Sessions on climate change, geopolitical tensions, the global economy, and AI, featuring OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, will also take place.
Indian Representation at Davos WEF Meet 2024:
- Union Ministers: Representing India are Smriti Irani, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Hardeep Singh Puri.
- Ashwini Vaishnaw: Minister for railways, communications, electronics & information technology.
- Hardeep Singh Puri: Minister for housing & urban affairs and minister for petroleum and natural gas.
- Smriti Irani: Minister for women & child development and minister for minority affairs.
- Chief Ministers: Eknath Shinde (Maharashtra), Revanth Reddy (Telangana), and Siddaramaiah (Karnataka) form a significant part of the Indian delegation.
- Other Leaders: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, and CEOs including Gautam Adani, Sanjiv Bajaj, Kumar Mangalam Birla, N Chandrasekaran, Nadir Godrej, Sajjan Jindal, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Nandan Nilekani, Rishad Premji, and Sumant Sinha will also contribute to this momentous event.
