WEF kicks off

The 5-day World Economic Forum (WEF) kicks off this evening in Davos, Switzerland. The event is expected to draw 2,500 participants from 96 countries. Participants from around the world include:

• 250 public figures, including 41 heads of state or government, 60 ministers, 30 heads or senior officials of international organizations and 10 ambassadors
• More than 510 participants from civil society, including 50 heads or representatives of non-governmental organizations, 225 media leaders, 215 leaders from academic institutions and think tanks, 10 religious leaders of different faiths and 10 trade union leaders. [Source: www.weforum.org]

The co-chairs of this year’s meet, as in every other year, is a handful of some of the world’s most influential names: Kofi Annan, Stephen Green of HSBC Holdings, Anand Mahindra of Mahindra and Mahindra, Rupert Murdoch of News Corp, Maria Ramos (Transnet Ltd., South Africa), Jeroen van der Veer (Chief o Royal Dutch Shell) and Werner Wenning of Bayer, Germany.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is expected to pitch Russia’s Economic Vision at the opening address (00:15, IST) that is expected to set the tone of the debate over the course of the forum. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath is leading the Indian congregation.

It will be interesting to note how Klaus Schwab’s stage will shape up discussions (and solutions, hopefully). With all the doom and gloom expected for much of 2009, this could very well be a place for the top brass to put matters into perspective. As it is already being said, this is the most important edition of the WEF in forty years.

A familiar face at WEF, Bill Gates, seems absent. The Obama administration is sending only one senior adviser. Another section to watch out this WEF: The Young Global Leaders.