The World Economic Forum's 55th annual meeting, themed "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age," is set to commence in Davos-Klosters, gathering nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries. Spanning from Monday to Thursday, the event will focus on five pivotal areas: reimagining growth, industries in the intelligent age, investing in people, safeguarding the planet, and rebuilding trust. This prestigious forum will highlight the critical need for dialogue amidst an era marked by increasing uncertainty.
In an era where global challenges demand urgent solutions, the World Economic Forum provides a platform for leaders to convene and discuss pressing issues. The event, originally founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, who served as its executive chairman until the start of this year, aims to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders. According to the World Economic Forum, participants "will gather in Davos-Klosters to address pressing challenges and shape emerging opportunities" and "meet on a global, impartial, not-for-profit platform."
However, this year's summit sees a notable absence of key world leaders. Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be the only head of state attending in person. Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to address the forum via live video link on Thursday. Despite 350 government leaders attending, including 60 heads of state and governments, leaders from Brazil, China, and India, who delivered keynote speeches a decade ago, will not be present this year.
The forum has faced criticism for being perceived as elite and out-of-touch, causing some ambivalence among potential attendees. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, China's President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy's leader Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are among those not attending. Nevertheless, Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, alongside leaders from global organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, United Nations, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization will be present.
Ding Xuexiang, vice premier of China; Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Javier Milei, the prime minister of Argentina; and Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, are slated to deliver speeches during the summit. These discussions reflect a shared endeavor to "come together to find common ground and seize opportunities for positive change on large global issues," as echoed by the World Economic Forum.
Sven Smit, a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, highlighted the unpredictable nature of the forum's themes:
"You can't fully predict it; there are themes out there that people suggest. They range from growth to sustainability, but what distils as a Davos theme is not fully predictable and that's the interesting part."
This unpredictability underscores the dynamic nature of global discourse and the forum's role in shaping it.
Jan Aart Scholte, a professor at Leiden University, observed shifts in how proponents of a liberal global economy communicate:
"I don't think that the promoters of a liberal, open world economy speak with quite as much disdain…of contrary forces and views as they might have done…before the global financial crisis."
This sentiment reflects an evolving dialogue that now seeks greater inclusivity:
"And no, we haven't always taken sufficient account of those who feel excluded from this."
Scholte also noted that:
"There are various indicators that a site like the World Economic Forum isn't as strong a magnet as it might have been a couple of decades ago."
Despite these criticisms and absences, the forum remains a significant platform for dialogue. It aims to understand what is on the minds of global leaders who are present in Davos.