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World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum is an international non-governmental organisation with its headquarters in Switzerland. World Economic Forum was established in 1971 with the goal of enhancing international relations through a public-private partnership. Every year, the Forum convenes in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together academics, corporate executives, and other specialists from around the world to discuss global problems and work together to find answers. One of the most famous and important events of its sort is generally regarded as the Davos summit.
Along with hosting the annual summit, the World Economic Forum also carries out research, releases studies, and works with other groups to promote good change in areas including economic growth, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation.
World Economic Forum Background
The World Economic Forum (WEF), formerly known as the European Management Forum, was established by Klaus Schwab in 1971. In 1987, the group changed its name to the World Economic Forum with the intention of offering a forum for addressing international disputes. In 1971, 444 executives from Western European businesses were invited by Klaus Schwab to the first European Management Symposium, which was held at the Davos Conference Center.
To familiarise European businesses with American management techniques, this symposium was organised by the European Commission and European industry organisations. Eventually, in order to entice European business executives to Davos, Klaus Schwab established the World Economic Fund as a nonprofit organisation and organised the annual meetings every January.
World Economic Forum (WEF) | |
Year of Formation | 1971 |
Founder of WEF | Klaus Schwab |
WEF Headquarters | Cologny, Switzerland |
Purpose of Formation | International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation |
World Economic Forum Structure
The World Economic Forum (WEF) includes offices in New York, Beijing, and Tokyo in addition to its headquarters in Cologny, Switzerland. The Swiss Federal Government designated WEF as an NGO with “other international body” standing under the Swiss Host-State Act. On October 10, 2016, the WEF announced the creation of a new centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which would offer a forum for discussion, analysis, and effect on the scientific and technical advancements that are about to transform how we live, work, and interact with one another.
Also, 1,000 member firms which are multinational corporations with annual sales of more than $5 billion provide financial support for the WEF. These businesses are among the best in their sector and/or nation and have a leading role to play.
Initiatives under the World Economic Forum (WEF)
On January 19, 2017, the World Economic Forum in Davos introduced a global initiative for epidemics. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) programme aims to safeguard vaccination supplies for international emergencies and pandemics and to do new research into tropical disease vaccines. The Fourth Industrial Revolution for the Environment Initiative, a partnership between WEF, Stanford University, and PwC, was also established in 2017 by WEF. The effort is supported by the Mava Foundation, and in 2018, the World Economic Forum (WEF) stated that one project inside it, the Planet Bio-Genome Project, aimed to sequence the genomes of all organisms.
World Economic Forum Role
The World Economic Forum is divided into a number of branches, each concentrating on a distinct area of interest. They include the Global Shapers Community, which helps young people become leaders and change-makers in their communities, and the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which investigates the effects of new technologies on society and the economy.
The World Economic Forum gathers decision-makers from all facets of society to work on initiatives and projects that actually change the world. Our projects produce tangible and long-lasting outcomes and have a positive effect on society as a whole through collaboration between stakeholders with different points of view.
World Economic Forum 2023
The 2023 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), held in Davos, Switzerland, has ended. The World Economic Forum’s annual gathering was in its 53rd year. 52 heads of state or government are among the 2,700 leaders from 130 nations who have gathered for the gathering.
This year’s topic, “Cooperation in a Fragmented World,” was set against the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine and Russia, the effects of climate change, and shifting international political conditions.
World Economic Forum 2023 Key Takeaways
This year held the 53rd Annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. Below are the major key takeaways and developments held in Davos during the Forum Meeting:
World Economic Outlook
The majority of business leaders expressed optimism about the state of the economy, with the US and the EU now appearing to be free of the threat of a recession. Nonetheless, the central banks of the major economies issued a warning that concerns persisted and that they would maintain high-interest rates to restrain inflation.
Reopening in China
The bullish outlook has been boosted by China discontinuing its Zero-Covid Policy and reopening its businesses. But, doing so would increase its energy usage, which would raise energy prices.
Friendshoring
The World Trade Organization warned the economies to be aware of friend-shoring as the major trading powers of the United States, Europe, and China pushed their new industrial policies. The technique of moving supply chains to nations with less danger of disruption from political unrest is referred to by the phrase.
Ukraine-Russia War
Ukraine sought additional financial aid to reconstruct after the war as well as more military assistance to fight its war against Russia.
Everyone agreed that the fight against climate change needed more finance and green energy.
World Economic Forum 2023 Initiatives
The other major World Economic Forum Initiatives taken during the 53rd meeting held in Davos are below:
Giving to Amplify Environmental Action
Giving to Amplify Environmental Action (GAEA) is a global project that is sponsored by more than 45 partners and is spearheaded by the WEF.It aims to finance new and existing public, private, and philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) in order to help raise the $3 trillion in annual funding necessary to achieve net zero, Stop environmental degradation and restore biodiversity by 2050.
Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate
This organisation brings nations together to promote global cooperation on trade, the environment, and sustainable development. It now has 27 ministers from 27 different countries and is co-led by the trade ministers of Ecuador, the European Union, Kenya, and New Zealand.
Global Collaboration Village
The WEF, Accenture, and Microsoft partnership created the Global Collaboration Village as the first global, purpose-driven metaverse platform to provide a new digital environment for fostering global cooperation.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations (CEPI)
A new 100-day target for the pandemic response was established by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovations (CEPI).CEPI was established in 2017 by the governments of Norway and India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Economic Forum to accelerate the development of pandemic vaccines and other biologic countermeasures.
It is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.
India at Davos 2023
- By 2035, India will have the third $10 trillion economy, according to the Center for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).
- Leaders from around the world praised India’s physical and digital infrastructure prowess as well as its capacity to draw foreign investment through programmes like Product-Linked Incentives (PLI). Yet, they also emphasised the need for labour and land market reforms.
- In order to collaborate on the urban transformation agenda, the forum and the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) struck a collaboration.
- In Telangana, the forum also opened its first thematic centre focused on healthcare and life sciences. Moreover, Telangana and Allox Advance Materials Pvt Ltd signed a contract to establish a production facility for C-LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) active battery materials.