Prime Ministers Cameron, Medvedev and Monti, and Chancellor Merkel to address WEF next week

Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister David Cameron, Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Mario Monti of Italy will address the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2013 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The Annual Meeting will take place from 23 to 27 January under the theme Resilient Dynamism.

In its 43rd year, the mission of the World Economic Forum – committed to improving the state of the world – has driven the design and development of the Annual Meeting program. The Annual Meeting remains the foremost creative force for engaging leaders in collaborative activities focused on shaping the global, regional and industry agendas.

Under the theme ‘Resilient Dynamism,’ the program is built on the following pillars:

nLeading through Adversity: Building Resilient Institutions, Improving Decision-Making, Strengthening Personal Resilience

nRestoring Economic Dynamism: Achieving Inclusive Prosperity, Rebuilding Economic Confidence, Unleashing Entrepreneurial Innovation

nStrengthening Societal Resilience: Reinforcing Critical Systems, Sustaining Natural Resources, Establishing Shared Norms

“To be resilient is to adapt to changing contexts, withstand sudden shocks and recover from them while still pursuing critical goals. We face a new reality of sudden shocks and prolonged global economic malaise, particularly in major economies experiencing economic austerity. Future growth in this new context requires dynamism – bold vision and even bolder action. Either attribute – resilience or dynamism – alone is insufficient, as leadership in 2013 will require both; thus, the theme of ‘Resilient Dynamism,’” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum.

This year, world leaders, including heads of government and ministerial representation from all but one G20 country, are among the more than 2,500 participants from over 100 countries that will convene in Davos-Klosters. Nearly 50 heads of state or government will participate, along with more than 1,500 business leaders from the Forum’s 1,000 Member companies, as well as Social Entrepreneurs, Global Shapers, Young Global Leaders and representatives from civil society, media, academia and the arts.

Two years after the start of the Arab Spring, the Annual Meeting 2013 will introduce top decision-makers from North Africa who will outline their reform plans and shed light on the political, economic and social transitions in their respective countries. Among the leaders will be the prime ministers of Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt.

The current situation in the Levant will be another key element. The program will feature contributions by Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; the Lebanese Prime Minister; the Palestinian Prime Minister; and the President of Israel. The Prime Minister of Qatar will provide his insight and address the economic and social priorities of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

In addition, this year’s Annual Meeting marks a historic year for Africa. To date, participation is confirmed of nine heads of state or government, from Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Among leading public figures who will participate in this year’s meeting are: Kofi Annan, Chairman, Kofi Annan Foundation, Switzerland; Secretary-General, United Nations (1997-2006); Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations, New York; Eric I. Cantor, Majority Leader and Congressman from Virginia (Republican), 7th District, USA; Mark J. Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada; Mario Draghi, President, European Central Bank, Frankfurt; Angel Gurría, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris; Robert D. Hormats, US Undersecretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs; Jim Yong Kim, President, The World Bank, Washington DC; Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC; Pascal Lamy, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva; John McCain, Senator from Arizona (Republican), USA; and Olli Rehn, Vice-President, Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Commission, Brussels.

The Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2013 are: Frederico Curado, President and Chief Executive Officer, EMBRAER, Brazil; Muhtar A. Kent, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company, USA; Huguette Labelle, Chair, Transparency International, Germany; Andrew N. Liveris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Dow Chemical Company, USA; Atsutoshi Nishida, Chairman of the Board, Toshiba Corporation, Japan; and Axel A. Weber, Chairman of the Board of Directors, UBS, Switzerland.

Heads of state or government are from: Azerbaijan, Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Palestinian Territories, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Rwanda, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.