50th Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum begins in Davos

The 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, a  congregation of rich and powerful from across the world, opens in Davos, Switzerland yesterday. 

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal lead the Indian delegation to the WEF. Besides, over 100 CEOs, political leaders including Union Ministers and Chief Ministers will take part in the 50th edition of the annual event. WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab said in his welcome message last night that he is proud to have created a community of some great people, including young leaders, through this platform. 

The welcome message was followed by the annual crystal awards and this year's recipients included celebrity film star Deepika Padukone. The awards are given to cultural leaders, who are improving the state of the world through their contributions to inclusive and



sustainable change. 

Receiving the award, Padukone said that people must understand depression and anxiety are like any other illness and can be treated and her own experience has encouraged her to work for this cause. 

This year's programme focuses on achieving maximum impact on the Forum's platform for public-private cooperation across six core areas of activity: ecology, economy, society, industry, technology, and geopolitics. Among the initiatives to be launched at the annual meeting is one that aims to plant one trillion trees over the next decade and to equip one billion people with the necessary skills in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

US President Donald Trump, Britain's Prince Charles, German Chancellor Angela Merkel would be among the world leaders attending the annual meeting.