Snowless WEF meets with Spring in its step

MORE than two years after the start of the pandemic, the World Economic Forum (WEF) is finally back in Davos starting Sunday (May22), albeit with a significant new twist.

Delegates at this year’s face-to-face event will be more likely to be packing sandals than ski boots as the Swiss resort hosts a warmer, springtime version of the flagship networking forum. Yet, while the timing is new, much of the tradition of Davos is likely to remain in what is being billed as the first global opportunity for leaders from business, government and civil society to come together again, and set the agenda for a sustainable recovery in the post-pandemic world to come. 

Amongst the star guests this year, which include some 50 heads of state or government, is Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky who will deliver a speech on Monday via videoconference. His main message will be on post-war rebuilding of his nation which will require hundreds of billions in funds. WEF has frozen all relations with Russia amid the ongoing war.