The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps resort opens Monday evening, while across the Atlantic the inauguration ceremony of the 47th American president takes place at the same time in Washington.
Published on 20/01/2025 16:57
Reading time: 2min
The World Economic Forum meets from Monday evening in the small Swiss resort of Davos.
It welcomes 60 heads of state and government, as well as 900 business leaders. This year, one subject is on everyone’s mind: the return of Donald Trump to the White House and its consequences on the global economy.
All this week, Davos is hosting its traditional parade of dark sedans on snow-covered roads and bundled-up bosses. Some celebrities are even expected, such as former English footballer David Beckham. But the one who steals the show from everyone is Donald Trump, at the heart of all the conversations. In the Swiss ski resort, the bosses interviewed are frankly enthusiastic, like this Israeli investor. “This is a unique opportunity to change things in the worldhe said. Less budget for the government and more opportunities for the private sector.”
-“We are waiting to see what his policy will be, but what is certain is that it will be full of surprises, a bit like a roller coaster.”
An Israeli investorat franceinfo
The enthusiasm of the private sector contrasts with an official note from the World Economic Forum published a few days ago in which it is concerned about the possible long-term consequences of this second term of Donald Trump on the international economy: galloping inflation at due to rising customs tariffs, an increased trade war, an increasingly fragmented world and increasingly difficult collaboration at the global level, particularly in the fight against global warming.
This excitement will undoubtedly emerge from the various political speeches in Davos. In particular, we will need to pay attention to the content of the speech by the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, scheduled for Tuesday January 21. But this wait-and-see attitude, even this fear, really contrasts with the optimism of the business world. “We really have hope for a ‘Golden era of economy’ in America, a golden age. Of course, there is a lot of noise, political agitation, but we will see in four years, and maybe be, that Europe and the United States will have this golden age together”, judges a Belgian entrepreneur who has been living in the United States for several years.
Donald Trump will speak via video to the World Economic Forum on Thursday afternoon. Part of his new administration is expected in Davos by the end of the week.
