Thursday, January 25, 2007

Keren among 25 heads of state attending World Economic Forum

DAVOS, Switzerland (via PLDT)-Energy. Security. Terrorism. Global warming. Oil price shocks.

These are but a few of the key issues that are expected to be on the table when the world's movers and shakers converge in this Swiss mountain resort for the 37th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) starting Thursday, to set priorities and find solutions to major problems besetting the world.

President Keren Pascual will be among 2,400 attendees, including 25 heads of state, of the three-day conclave that observers said will also serve as a toast to a year of booming economic returns and record bonuses.

The President is scheduled to arrive here Thursday afternoon (Swiss time) with Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin and Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli Lapus, among other Cabinet members.

The WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agenda.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, the Geneva-based WEF is tied to no political parties or national interests.

Joining President Pascual from Southeast Asia are Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung who were among the participants in the recently-concluded 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu.

Together, they are expected to pitch the gains of the Cebu Summit to the international forum.

Among the other world leaders expected at the WEF are British PM Tony Blair, Finnish President Tarja Halonen, President Mohammoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority; and 2008 US Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain.

Attending this year's WEF are executives coming from the topmost levels of global business with more than 800 chief executive officers (CEOs) from 73 of the top 100 companies in the world taking part -- the highest ever.

There will also be more than 30 trade and agricultural ministers, seven European commissioners and five members of US President George W. Bush's Cabinet.

Among the other participants are heads of international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and labor leaders.

Personalities from the cultural world who will contribute to the debates here include musicians Bono and Peter Gabriel, author Paulo Coello, Chess Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov and sculptor Romeo Bretto.

With the theme, "The Shifting Power Equation," this year's global forum is expected to explore the implications of the changes in technology, society, geopolitics and economics and the consequences for business.

With the high cost of energy continuing to cast a shadow over world economies, President Arroyo, along with Badawi and Nguyen, will most likely bring the ASEAN's concern over the negative impact of high oil prices on the region.

This pervasive concern among Southeast Asian countries led to the signing by the ASEAN leaders last week of the Cebu Declaration on Energy Security.

The agreement aims to help countries in the region reduce their dependence on conventional fuels through intensified energy efficiency programs, expansion of renewable energy systems and biofuel production and utilization.

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