48th World Economic Forum opens in Davos; Trump message much awaited

FILE: PM Modi during the state visit of the President of the Republic of Singapore to India, 2015. (Photo By Narendra Modi – State Visit of the President of the Republic of Singapore to India, CC BY-SA 2.0)

DAVOS — The World Economic Forum, set to kick off in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos on Tuesday, will be held amid the most impressive global economic growth over the past 10 years and a positive outlook.

This year’s forum will be attended by a record high number of political leaders. More than 70 heads of state and governments will arrive, including the presidents of the United States, France, Brazil, Argentina, Tunisia, Poland, and Ukraine.

The forum will be opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will deliver a program speech.

US President Donald Trump is expected to grab world attention with his message on the America First policy and the opportunities for European and international partners. This will be the first visit of a US leader to Davos in the past 18 years. The summit in the Alpine resort was last attended by Bill Clinton in 2000.

The Davos forum will host 1,900 business leaders, more than 200 media executives, 50 prominent cultural figures, and more than 30 “technology pioneers.”

Russia’s delegation to the Davos forum will be led by Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, and include Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev and business representatives.The delegation members will meet with investors and representatives of other states.

According to Dmitriev, Russia might announce at the forum, several investment projects in the technological sector.