World Economic Forum Unites Global Leaders to Drive Collaboration and Sustainable Growth

Riyadh: The World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development is set to bring together 1,000 influential leaders from 92 countries on April 28-29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As the world navigates complex geopolitical challenges and economic uncertainties, this gathering aims to bridge the North-South divide and find collaborative solutions to shared global issues.

With a strong focus on action-oriented dialogue, the meeting will address three key themes: Inclusive Growth, Energy for Development, and Global Collaboration. Participants will engage in discussions, share insights, and explore practical approaches to tackle these pressing global challenges.

To ensure broader engagement, sessions from the meeting will be livestreamed, allowing people around the world to join the conversation. Social media users are encouraged to participate using the hashtag #SpecialMeeting24.

"This moment calls for intensified international collaboration and purposeful dialogue," said Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum. "The Special Meeting 2024 provides a crucial platform for leaders from various sectors and geographies to take their ideas and turn them into actions. Together, we can unlock scalable solutions to the interconnected challenges we face."

The meeting will build upon the successful inaugural Growth Summit held last year in Switzerland. It will promote forward-thinking approaches to the complex crises affecting our world, while acknowledging the need for practical trade-offs. Key issues on the agenda include emerging economic policies, the energy transition, and geopolitical shocks that impact North-South relations.

Addressing the significance of hosting this meeting, Faisal F. Alibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia, emphasized the country's commitment to global collaboration and ensuring a mutually beneficial path to prosperity. He stated, "Saudi Arabia is mobilizing its diplomatic influence to forge a secure, stable, and sustainable shared future. Progress must not come at the expense of any region. We are fully dedicated to co-authoring this journey with the global community."

The meeting will revolve around three thematic pillars:

1. A compact for inclusive growth: Participants will examine how recent trends in innovation and economic policy, combined with underinvestment in human development, pose a threat to global inequality and hinder poverty reduction efforts. They will explore opportunities to counter these risks and promote inclusive growth across advanced, emerging, and developing economies.

2. Catalyzing action on energy for development: With the world facing the challenges of climate change and disparities in energy access, this focus area will seek scalable solutions to accelerate the clean energy transition. The aim is to achieve equitable growth and improve energy access, particularly in developing economies.

3. Revitalizing global collaboration: Against the backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, participants will foster dialogue to enhance international collaboration, bolster humanitarian efforts, and mitigate the ripple effects of instability. The focus will also be on building a more resilient global economy through strengthened cooperation between the Global North and South.

The Special Meeting will welcome more than 220 public figures from over 60 countries. Notable political leaders in attendance include Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, and Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, among others. Additionally, prominent figures from international organizations, such as Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, will contribute to the discussions.

In a world facing numerous challenges and risks, purpose-driven dialogue and collaboration between business, governments, and civil society are crucial to effect positive change. The World Economic Forum's Special Meeting 2024 aims to galvanize these efforts and pave the way for sustainable development and inclusive growth.