WEF AT DAVOS: A TURNING POINT

For India, Davos 2022 represented an unparalleled opportunity to showcase its efforts in climate change, technological innovation and economic stability. And India made the most of it

- Pranjal Sharma

AFTER A two-year break, the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum brought together nearly 2,500 leaders and experts from around the globe at Davos. This was the first global in-person meeting of business and political leaders after the Covid-19 pandemic. Davos also took place in the middle of the Ukraine war which is roiling western economies.

"The Annual Meeting is the first summit that brings global leaders together in this new situation characterised by an emerging multipolar world as a result of the pandemic and war. The fact that nearly 2,500 leaders from politics, business civil society, and media come together in person demonstrates the need for a trusted, informal and action-oriented global platform to confront the issues in a crisis-driven world," said Klaus Schwab, Founder, and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum. The theme of, History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies resonated with participants and observers alike.

Focus on six pillars

The Davos meeting focused on six pillars within the theme. These were global and regional cooperation; economic recovery and growth; health and equitable societies; safeguarding climate; industry transformation; and the fourth industrial revolution.

Indian companies and government representatives made the most of the absence of the Russian delegation and a surprisingly small Chinese presence of barely a dozen delegates. More than 100 Indian delegates which included CEOs, unicorn founders, and political leaders were at Davos. While Russia was denied participation at the Davos gathering, China's lockdown conditions prevented a large presence. China sent its smallest official delegation ever, amid stringent quarantine rules due to its zero-Covid policy and its unpopularity because of "pro-Russia neutrality". China was represented in only four of more than 200 sessions at WEF.