The 2025 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) takes place January 20-24 in Davos, Switzerland. Here’s a look at what can be expected at this year’s meeting.
Davos is hosting world leaders this week for the World Economic Forum 2025, whose meeting is titled Collaboration for the Smart Age. Discussions will focus, among other things, on geoeconomic uncertainty, AI, reimagining growth and saving the planet.
Some 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries are expected. Around 350 government leaders, including 60 heads of state and government, from all key regions will also be present in the hill station.
“If the gap between hopes and fears was obvious last year, the context of Davos 2025 is no less conflictual. Geoeconomic uncertainty, trade tensions, cultural polarization and climate anxiety rumble, but there is also the promise of rapid innovation – AI, quantum computing and biotechnology – to improve productivity and standard of living,” says a WEF press release.
Who is coming to Davos 2025?
Participation is diverse – by sectors, industries, generations and gender.
“This diversity is fundamental to the Forum’s approach to ensuring that the world’s most important issues are discussed as widely as possible and that solutions are designed through a diverse, cross-sectoral lens,” the WEF press release said.
Public figures
More than 350 government leaders are expected this year, including 60 heads of state and government:
Key participating political leaders include: Donald J. Trump, President-elect of the United States (who will join via live video link for an interactive dialogue with participants) – and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China; Javier Milei, president of Argentina; Olaf Scholz, German Federal Chancellor; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa and Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, will also be present at the event.
-The meeting will also welcome Karin Keller-Sutter, President of the Swiss Confederation 2025, Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Finance; Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia; Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Muhammad Yunus, senior advisor to the government of Bangladesh; Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium; Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Mostafa Madbouli, Egyptian Prime Minister; Abdulatif Rashid, President of Iraq.
Simon Harris, Taoiseach of Ireland; Isaac Herzog, president of Israel; Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Mohammed Mustafa and Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority; Dina Ercilia Boluarte will also be present, as will Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president.
International organizations
Leaders of participating international organizations include: António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization; Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization and Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program, will also be present in Davos.
Private sector and forum communities
More than 1,600 business leaders, including more than 900 of the top CEOs and chairs of World Economic Forum members and partners, will also participate, more than 120 of whom are global innovators, technology pioneers and unicorns who transform industries.
“More than 170 leaders from civil society and the social sector – from trade unions, non-governmental organizations, religious and indigenous communities, as well as experts and leaders from the world’s leading universities, research institutes and think tanks – will participate in the meeting. “, also noted the WEF in a press release.
More than 160 members of the Forum communities, including the Unicorn and Technology Pioneers communities, the Community of Global Shapers, the Forum of Young Global Leaders and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, will also be on hand to showcase local innovations and solutions to challenges worldwide.
