WEF MEET KICKS OFF

More than 2,500 leaders including top CEOs and experts from banking, academia, social work and political spheres as well as heads of states reached Davos today to mark the beginning of the 44th World Economic Forum annual meet, also being attended by over 100 Indian delegates. Conflict in Syria and Iran's return to global economic tables are likely to hog limelight at this year's talk-fest of rich and powerful from across the world. Indian ministers and corporate leaders will highlight the continuing relevance of the Indian growth story at a time when the world economy is limping back to normalcy. Heavy snow has covered this entire town in white hue, but the mood is not that gloomy as was seen in the past few years. This year's meeting theme is 'The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business'. Hundreds of top-notch executives will discuss the state of global economy among themselves besides deliberations among around 40 heads of government at this annual WEF meeting for next four days in this small Swiss skiing resort town. Being held in Davos for the 43rd time, economic issues and hardcore business matters will take maximum talk-time, while Syria problems, Iran's nuclear deal as also eurozone's future are expected to grab attention. Heads of states or governments from countries, including the UK, Australia, Japan, Iran, Israel, Brazil, Italy, South Korea, Mauritius and Switzerland, are expected at the meet. From India, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath would be attending the meet. Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Praful Patel, Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan would also be present.
Apart from WEF engagements, Indian leaders are expected to hold bilateral and multi-lateral meetings with their counterparts from other countries and with top corporates. Prominent names from India Inc. expected at the meet include Tata group chief Cyrus Mistry, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Wipro's Azim Premji, industrialists Adi Godrej, Gautam Adani, Rahul Bajaj, Sunil Mittal, Prashant Ruia, Shivinder and Malvinder Mohan Singh, G M Rao, Pawan Munjal, Naresh Goyal, bankers Naina Lal Kidwai and Uday Kotak. Infosys Vice Chairman and Confederation of Indian Industry President Kris Gopalakrishnan is one of the co-Chairs of WEF. However, industry captains like Chanda Kochhar, Anand Mahindra and Kumar Mangalam Birla, who are generally regulars at the meet, have skipped the event this year.