The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2013: Resilient Dynamism

I have returned to London from my recent adventures on the slippery, snow-capped mountains of the Swiss Alps! More specifically, I spent the last week in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, where the 43^rd World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2013 was held (22 - 27 January). Presented with the golden opportunity of joining the Malaysian delegation on this trip, I made my way to London Heathrow in the early hours of the morning to catch a British Airways flight to Zurich. During the two-hour trip, one could already witness a preview of the event’s ambience as most passengers boarded the flight in suits and ties, and were found reviewing and rehearsing discussion papers throughout the voyage in their respective seats. From Zurich airport, it took another two and a half hours to reach the scenic ski resort, where some of the world’s global elite in politics and business had descended (or ascended, to be precise) to participate in the discussion on the challenged state of human affairs. 

A breathtaking view of the mountains and the moon from Parsenn, Davos-Klosters

Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Najib Tun Hj. Abd Razak, headed the Malaysian delegation in Davos. Three of his cabinet ministers – Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Dato’ Sri Idris Jala, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, and Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) were part of the delegation.

Upon arrival in Davos, the grand scale of the event was evident in the surrounding atmosphere. Security was extremely tight with some roads in town specifically those leading to the Congress Centre, were strategically blocked, while military presence was seen on every street with extra security positioned near hotels in which heads of state and business magnates checked in.

Morosani Schweizerhof Hotel, where several of the WEF sessions took place

According to the event’s press release, over 2,500 participants from more than 100 countries representing business, government, academia and civil society were expected to participate in the 43rd WEF Annual Meeting under the theme “Resilient Dynamism”. In its declared commitment to improving the state of the world, the WEF helmed the design and development of the Annual Meeting programme, which was claimed to be “the foremost creative force for engaging leaders in collaborative activities focused on shaping the global, regional and industry agendas”. The pillars of the central theme were made up of the following:

· Leading through Adversity: Building Resilient Institutions, Improving Decision-Making, Strengthening Personal Resilience


· Restoring Economic Dynamism: Achieving Inclusive Prosperity, Rebuilding Economic Confidence, Unleashing Entrepreneurial Innovation

· Strengthening Societal Resilience: Reinforcing Critical Systems, Sustaining Natural Resources, Establishing Shared Norms

As Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, Professor Klaus Schwab explained:

“To be resilient is to adapt to changing contexts, withstand sudden shocks and recover from 
them while still pursuing critical goals. We face a new reality of sudden shocks and prolonged 
global economic malaise, particularly in major economies experiencing economic austerity. Future growth in this new context requires dynamism – bold vision and even bolder action. Either attribute – resilience or dynamism – alone is insufficient, as leadership in 2013 will require both”. 

During a session that introduced the theme of the event, Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) spoke on the importance of individual empowerment, especially for women, and how the world could turn to the youths for renewed optimism. In her speech, Lagarde stated, "This new generation thinks differently. It's a generation weaned on immediacy, democracy and the global reach of social media". She listed the three major principles of the youth, which are openness, inclusiveness and accountability, and highlighted the global and open characteristics of the young generation, which encourages cooperation that transcends national priorities to achieve global good where everyone wins. That said, Lagarde reminded the audience of the repeated cries across the globe for stronger inclusion, transparency, and good governance, pointing out that "we live in a participatory world where the young generation expects tolerance, respect, fairness & opportunities."

Christine Lagarde during her speech at a WEF session
(Source: The Guardian)

In addressing climate change, Lagarde acknowledged that it is the greatest challenge of the 21^st century as global temperatures in 2012 were the hottest recorded since 1880: “Without concerted actions, the next generation would be roasted, toasted, fried and grilled and it’s on us to avoid that”. It is also interesting to note that Lagarde called attention to the significance of citizen power through information technology, touching on the issue of governments allowing people access to information and stating that "good governance is the bedrock of economic success". She explained that it was vital for countries to have the strength to build governance to effectively implement policies and that the private sector should be involved as well, not only for profit-making but also to add value, jobs, and to generate positive impacts in society. In relation to my research topic on environmental access rights, Lagarde’s speech hints on the urgency required in accelerating implementation of access principles, as well as the role of not only governments, but also all key actors including businesses, academia, and civil society, in nurturing an ecosystem based on good governance that is demanded by the young generation. At such a globally reputable event, it is vital in this regard, for decision-makers to recognise that access rights under good governance are elements that could contribute to economic growth and social prosperity, as well as generate solutions to help maintain environmental sustainability.

However, as exciting as it would have been to actually attend the session in which Lagarde delivered her speech, I was only able to follow it through live televised broadcast. Undoubtedly, the exclusivity (and elite nature) of the WEF Annual Meeting meant that it was not possible for simply anyone to attend the planned sessions, which covered a range of intriguing topics such as “Sustainable Competitiveness”, “Meeting the Innovation Imperative”, “Women in Economic Decision-making”, and “The Global Science Outlook”. Nevertheless, it has been widely acknowledged that most collaborations and meaningful dialogue that occur during the week of the event have taken place in the corridors, in between the sessions, and in separately organized meetings. Throughout the process, I observed the making of bi-lateral dialogues and partnerships taking place in hotel lobbies, cafés, and even the ladies room. Nonetheless, for a student like myself, being present in the environment of the event offered networking opportunities and a chance to witness how world leaders interact amongst themselves. Additionally, there were side events such as the Open Forums of which members of the public were invited to attend and participate in.

Open Forum Davos 2013 - "NGOs: New Models for the 21st Century"

At the Open Forum Davos 2013

I was also fortunate to gain access to a brief press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak and international media at the Morosani Schweizerhof Hotel. During the press conference, he emphasised the importance of taking advantage of the WEF Annual Meeting as a platform for enhancing Malaysia’s presence in the international arena, underscoring its latest developments and potential for the future, and showcasing the country as a destination for tourism and investment.

Throughout the week in Davos, I continued to follow the active participation of the Malaysian Prime Minister who was a panelist in three of the WEF sessions. In “The Economic Malaise and its Perils”, which was televised live in collaboration with Al-Jazeera, the session was programmed to focus on the political and societal risks arising from economic malaise. However, it was concluded as a “misnamed” session after the discussions apparated towards positive outlooks, new and innovative solutions, and the importance of can-do attitudes. In this session, the PM mentioned the “Malaysia Boleh” (Malaysia Can-Do) slogan that has been repeatedly used in the country, explaining how it has instilled the can-do spirit in Malaysian society. He also talked about how Malaysia recovered from the East Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 without assistance from the IMF, and the creation of its own model of social safety nets to avoid political and social costs.

Prime Minister of Malaysia as a panelist on WEF session,
"The Economic Malaise and its Perils"

Malaysia's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
making a comment during a WEF session

“An Insight, An Idea with Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak” was a one-on-one session that was available for access through live webcast. The Prime Minister was interviewed by CNN anchor, Fareed Zakaria, on the Government’s policies and programmes, the upcoming elections, how to foster unity in diversity, and implementing dynamic changes through the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to propel Malaysia into becoming a sustainable, inclusive and high-income nation by 2020.

“Resilience in Diversity” was the third session attended by the PM. It focused on economic and geopolitical challenges in ASEAN countries and fostering economic integration as well as ensuring regional security. Unfortunately, the session was neither accessible by non-participants nor televised through television or online.

Events that I managed to attend included the WEF Open Forums that covered various issues such as NGO accountability, youth unemployment, and religion in the 21^st Century, an official dinner hosted by Dato’ Ho May Yong, Ambassador of Malaysia to Switzerland, and “Malaysia Night”, a vibrant soiree that served to promote Malaysia as a destination for foreign investment, trade, tourism and education while providing opportunities for WEF participants to network with the Prime Minister and Malaysian industry leaders. “Malaysia Night” was considered a success, and gave me the chance to freely mingle in a roomful of policymakers, business tycoons, local and international celebrities, and be in the presence of the world’s most influential people including Professor Klaus Schwab and Joseph E. Stiglitz. Malaysian business leaders such as Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia, Datuk Jimmy Choo, luxury shoemaker, and celebrity figures including Hollywood actress (and former Bond girl) Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh as well as singer Jaclyn Victor were also spotted at the star-studded event.

In retrospect, the lessons learnt and memorable experiences gained from joining the Malaysian delegation in attending the WEF Annual Meeting were priceless, and supplied me with additional information on the dimensions of governance-related issues that links back to my research topic. As for being in Davos itself, surrounded by the international atmosphere and dialogue as well as picturesque mountains of the Swiss Alps, no words can truly describe the valuable knowledge, exposure, and sense of self-growth that was gained from this 5-day trip. I am indeed fortunate to have been given this amazing opportunity and if given another chance, I truly hope to be able to attend the event again in the near future. 

Many thanks to my supervisor, Karen Makuch, and Imperial College London for their support in allowing and encouraging me to join the delegation on this trip. :)    

A frozen lake in snowy Davos, Switzerland

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