WEF Annual Meeting Kicks Off in Davos: Global Leaders Converge for Key Discussions

• The 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting begins on January 19 in Davos, Switzerland, drawing over 3,000 global leaders.
• Record participation includes more than 400 politicians, 64 heads of state, over 1,700 CEOs, and numerous ministers and central bank governors.
• Founded in 1971 by Professor Klaus Schwab as the European Management Forum, WEF is funded by membership fees from industry leaders.
• WEF serves as a platform for discussing global issues like climate change, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and geopolitical uncertainties, influencing corporate and public sector decisions.
• Key historical milestones include shifting focus to economic and social issues in 1973, partnering with China in 1979, and facilitating a historic meeting between Nelson Mandela and Mangosuthu Buthelezi in 1992.

Why It Matters: The WEF annual meeting in Davos gathers global leaders to shape policies and discuss critical world issues.