WEF at its core, new voices resonate at Davos

At Davos 2024, the theme of Building Trust’ resonated with leaders across the world.

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Every year before and after the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, columns are written that underline the seeming irrelevance of Davos and the decline of its influence.

However, every year Davos manages to grow and surprise delegates in new ways. The sessions in the Congress Centre maintained the tradition of setting the agenda for global debates on a range of issues in 2024 too.

The WEF programme consisted of workstreams directly related to crucial issues driving the future across four interconnected thematic priorities: Achieving Security and Cooperation in a Fractured World; Creating Growth and Jobs for a New Era; Artificial Intelligence as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society; and A Long-Term Strategy for Climate, Nature and Energy. In numbers and quality of participation WEF maintained its high standards.

There were representatives from over 100 governments, all major international organizations and the Forum’s 1,000 partner companies, as well as civil society leaders, issue experts, young change-makers, social entrepreneurs and the media. Close to 3,000 leaders from 125 countries joined the meeting. Over 350 heads of state and government and ministers from all key regions of the world joined in. About 1,600 business leaders, of which over 100 unicorns and technology pioneers participated. Over 200 change-makers from Global Shapers, Young Global Leaders and Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship communities engaged at the sessions. More than 200 academic, thought leaders and civil society representatives were present.