The Annual Meeting 2025 of The World Economic Forum took place at Davos-Klosters from 20th to 24th January 2025.
- Location: Davos-Klosters, Switzerland
- Theme: “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”
- Participants: Approximately 3,000 leaders from government, business, civil society, and academia across more than 130 countries, including over 350 heads of state and government officials.
World Economic Forum (WEF):
- Foundation: Established in 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab as the European Management Forum; rebranded as WEF in 1987.
- International Status: Recognized as an international organization in 2015, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Purpose: Engages leaders from business, government, and civil society to address global challenges and promote economic and social progress.
- Concepts Introduced: Pioneered the Stakeholder Capitalism concept, emphasizing that companies should prioritize long-term value creation benefiting all stakeholders.
- Focus Areas: Addresses global issues like economic growth, climate change, technology, and geopolitical uncertainties.
- Funding: Primarily funded by global corporations with annual turnovers above USD 5 billion.
- Key Reports: Publishes influential reports such as the Global Competitiveness Report, Global Gender Gap Report, Future of Jobs Report, Global Risks Report, and Global Travel and Tourism Report.
- Influence: Played a role in major diplomatic breakthroughs, such as the creation of the G20.
Key Themes and Takeaways:
- Reimagining Growth:
- Emphasis on reviving and reimagining economic growth to build stronger and more resilient economies.
- Discussions on identifying new sources of growth in the evolving global economy.
- Industries in the Intelligent Age:
- Focus on how industries can adapt to major geo-economic and technological shifts.
- Balancing short-term goals with long-term imperatives in industry transformation.
- Investing in People:
- Addressing the impact of geo economic changes, green transitions, and technological advancements on employment, skills, and public services.
- Strategies for public and private sectors to invest in human capital development and create good jobs.
- Safeguarding the Planet:
- Highlighting the need for innovative partnerships and investments in climate and clean technologies.
- Catalyzing energy, climate, and nature action through increased financing and deployment of frontier technologies.
- Rebuilding Trust:
- Addressing deepened societal divides and shifting geopolitics.
- Exploring new ways for stakeholders to collaborate on solutions both internationally and within societies.
Notable Discussions:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI):
- Extensive dialogues on AI’s role in transforming industries and societies.
- Emphasis on responsible AI frameworks and ethical considerations to balance progress with societal impact.
- Climate Action:
- Urgent calls for decarbonization and ensuring a fair transition for workers and communities.
- Discussions on aligning business growth with global sustainability goals.
- Global Partnerships:
- Recognition that global challenges require multi-sectoral partnerships for impactful solutions.
- Highlighting that effective collaborations could unlock significant market opportunities by 2030.
India’s Participation:
- Investment Commitments:
- India secured over ₹20 lakh crore in investment commitments during the summit.
- Maharashtra accounted for nearly 80% of the total investments.
- State Contributions:
- Telangana: Secured ₹1.79 lakh crore in investments.
- Kerala: Emphasized its industrial transformation initiatives.
- Uttar Pradesh: Highlighted its vision to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2029 with a focus on eradicating poverty.
