and Felipe Calderon on the margins of World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting,
Davos, Switzerland
28 January 2009
Davos: South African President Kgalema Motlanthe will hold bilateral
discussions with a number of world leaders including British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown as well as Mexican President Felipe Calderon on the margins of the
World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
President Motlanthe arrived on Wednesday evening in Davos where he is
leading a South African government delegation including Ministers Trevor
Manuel, Mandisi Mpahlwa, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Buyelwa Sonjica and senior
government officials to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Summit meeting in
Switzerland, scheduled from today, 28 January to 1 February 2009.
In addition to holding bilateral political discussions with his
counterparts, President Motlanthe is also expected to hold discussions with
world business leaders during his visit to Davos.
The 2009 World Economic Forum Annual meeting is organised under the theme
"Shaping the Post-Crisis World" with the objective of developing a holistic and
systematic approach to improve the state of the world in a manner that
integrates all stakeholders of global society. This session will provide a
unique opportunity for leaders from industry, government and civil society to
shape this transformation at an early stage for the benefit of all
stakeholders.
The annual meeting theme "Shaping the Post-Crisis World" will be explored
through six programmatic tracks:
* promoting stability in the financial system and reviving global economic
growth
* ensuring effective global, regional and national governance for the long
term
* addressing the challenges of sustainability and development
* shaping the values and leadership principles for a post-crisis world
* catalysing the next wave of growth through innovation, science and
technology
* understanding the implications on industry business model.
Furthermore, the 2009 annual meeting promises to be one of the most
important events in the World Economic Forum's history. More than 40 heads of
state and government have already confirmed their participation with over 2 500
participants from the business, political and cultural communities expected to
address this annual event. This mass participation reflects the growing need
for an interdisciplinary and systematic view of the major economic, political,
societal and technological changes that lie ahead in 2009.
In preparation for this event the World Economic Forum has stated that the
international landscape will be radically altered as a result of the present
global economic crisis. Countries, communities and companies are being forced
to review their assumptions about the future and to rethink their strategies in
light of the global transformation currently evolving.
Upon conclusion of his visit to the World Economic Forum, President
Motlanthe is expected to proceed to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will be
joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Foreign
Affairs Director-General (DG) for the forthcoming African Union Summit of Heads
of State and government.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
28 January 2009
Source: SAPA
