All About Davos 2008

What is Davos?

Davos is famous as the host to the annual meetings of the World Economic Forum (WEF), an annual meeting of global political and business elites, which is often referred to as simply Davos. It is also known as a winter sports area, including serving as the site of the annual Spengler Cup ice hockey tournament, which is hosted by the HC Davos local hockey team. - source

What goes on at Davos?

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Geneva-based foundation whose annual meeting of top business leaders, national political leaders (presidents, prime ministers and others), and selected intellectuals and journalists is usually held in Davos, Switzerland. There are also regional meetings throughout the year. It was founded in 1971 by Klaus M. Schwab, a business professor in Switzerland. - source

What is the World Economic Forum?

The World Economic Forum is designed as a place for dialogue and debate about the major social and economic problems of the planet because: representatives of both the most powerful economic organisations and the most powerful political organisations are present; intellectuals also participate; and there is a generally informal atmosphere encouraging wide-ranging debate. Journalists have access to most sessions at the Annual Meeting in Davos, the majority of which are webcast live so that the debates can be open to a wider public. In all about 600 journalists from print, radio and TV take part in the meeting. Whilst business and political leaders make up the majority of participants, NGO leaders from groups such as Amnesty International, Transparency International, Oxfam and various UN organizations attend, as well as trades union leaders and religious leaders.

Davos 2008 Videos

World Economic Forum Pre-Davos 2008 Press Conference:


CNN InterviewS PM Abdullah in Davos 2008:


World Economic Forum Bill Gates Davos 2008:


Davos and WEF Facts

2007: German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, set out Germany's G8 presidency objectives of "growth and responsibility" at the Annual Meeting 2007. More I Germany's G8 presidency objectives
2006: Trade officials meeting at the Annual Meeting 2006 agree to accelerate talks to achieve a world trade deal. Some 25 trade ministers agreed to move on all key issues - agriculture, services and manufacturing - at the same time.
2006: The Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis (2006-2015) is launched by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and Bill Gates at the Annual Meeting 2006. The project - a coalition of over 400 organizations – aims to treat 50 million people and prevent 14 million tuberculosis deaths worldwide over the next ten years.
2006: The Annual Meeting 2006 gives sports leaders a voice. They presented their ideas on sport as a personal and social development tool, and called for new efforts to increase the impact of sport on society. Press release.
2005: The World Economic Forum works closely with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, to set his G-8 policy priorities of poverty alleviation in Africa and climate change. The Annual Meeting 2005 served as a platform for Mr Blair to launch his G-8 agenda.
- source