Okonjo-Iweala, WTO D-G, nine others to chair 14th WEF meeting in China

 BY BEN EGUZOZIE

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of World Trade Organisation (WTO) along with nine other global leaders representing the public and private sectors, as well as international organisations, will co-chair the 14th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting tagged “meeting of the New Champions”, holding in Tianjin, China in June. It is the first time an in-person meeting will be held in China in three years.

Other co-chairs are Nonkululeko Nyembezi, chairman of The Standard Bank Group Ltd; Gilberto Tomazoni chief executive of JBS; Benedikt Sobotka, chief executive of Eurasian Resources Group and Robin Zeng, founder chairman and CEO of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co.; Xin Baoan, executive chairman, State Grid Corporation of China; Eric Jing, chairman and chief executive officer, Ant Group; Meirav Oren, chief executive officer and co-founder, Versatile; Carrie Chan Kai Yi, chief executive officer and co-founder, Avant Meats; and Jeremy Allaire, co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer, Circle Internet Financial.

According to the WEF, the meeting comes at a time when the global economy is at a pivotal moment of transformation. Established business and industry models have not only been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also are being tested by a fast-changing macro-economic landscape. 

World leaders will come together to address global transformation challenges and accelerate momentum for innovation and entrepreneurship. Participants from business, government, civil society and international organisations, along with innovators and academics will convene in the Chinese city of Tianjin.

The Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2023 will tackle key issues that are of major concern to international companies and create and strengthen partnerships that focus on generating a positive impact.

As the Forum’s first in-person meeting in Asia for over three years, the meeting will also provide an opportunity to gather insights about the role of China and the region as a whole in reigniting the global economy.

Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of World Economic Forum, said the world is currently experiencing deep systemic and structural economic, geopolitical and technological transformations challenging traditional patterns. 

“To master this transformation process; and to create a more sustainable, more resilient and more cohesive world requires entrepreneurship and cooperation. The Annual Meeting of the New Champions creates a unique platform to boost innovation and strengthen collaborative efforts on a global level,” Schwab added.

The meeting has six core themes: rewiring growth; China in the global context; energy transition and materials; safeguarding nature and climate; post-pandemic consumers; and deploying innovation. 

More than 1,500 leaders from business, government, civil society and international organisations, along with innovators and academics, are expected to participate.

Liming Chen, chairman and chief representative officer of China, World Economic Forum, said, “As Asia re-emerges as an important engine for worldwide growth, the meeting will provide a timely opportunity for in-person dialogues and updates on China’s economic outlook and that of the region as a whole”.

Members of the media will be invited to join the in-person meeting. Many sessions will be streamed publicly on the Forum’s website and social media channels, as well as on its digital app, TopLink, providing an opportunity for the Forum’s Digital Members community and the public to engage in deliberations.