What a difference a year makes - or does it? This time last year, world leaders and global CEOs gathered at Davos, faced with having to find a solution for the worsening eurozone crisis. This year, there are yet more challenges. Uncertainty for the U.S. economy despite the fiscal cliff deal, the path of China’s economy, and Japan’s stimulus moves - all of this will make for an action-packed agenda.
More than 2,500 policymakers, entrepreneurs and academics from over 100 countries and regions have gathered in the Swiss ski resort of Davos for the annual World Economic Forum.
Promoting "resilient dynamism" is the theme this year, reminding world leaders of the pressing need to cooperate and fix the global economy.
Klaus Schwab, the World Economic Forum’s founder and executive chairman, urges that discussions must focus on concrete steps to spur genuine economic growth this year, especially in the developed world.
Klaus Schwab, Founder & Executive Chairman of World Economic Forum, said, "We have been caught too much in pessimism and crisis management, now is the time to move out, to be more dynamic again, to look at the future".
Before the opening, a newly published survey of experts from 26 countries showed that only 26 percent believed business leaders could pull the economy out of the slump.
A report published by PWC reflected the same sentiment. It says that among almost 1400 CEOs in the world, only 36 percent are confident about their business this year. The situation in Europe is the worst, with only 22 percent of participants sharing an optimistic outlook.
But there will be a glimmer of hope, as emerging markets like Brazil, Russia, India and China will continue to keep the global economy rolling.
Going back home: A standing journey