Important Facts For Prelims
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025
- 14 Feb 2025
- 4 min read
Why in News?
The 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting concluded in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together global leaders to discuss pressing issues under the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.”
What are the Key Takeaways From 2025 WEF?
- Sustainability: The meeting stressed that sustainability is vital for business resilience, urging companies to align growth with global sustainability goals for profitability and societal impact.
- Emerging Technologies: The 2025 WEF highlighted that Artificial Intelligence and green tech offer both opportunities and challenges.
- Responsible AI frameworks and ethical balance with progress is key to improving supply chains, reducing emissions, and enhancing transparency.
- Partnerships: Emphasized that global challenges require multi-sectoral partnerships for impactful solutions. Effective collaborations could unlock USD 12 trillion in market opportunities by 2030.
- Climate Action: Stressed the need for urgent climate action, ensuring decarbonization includes a fair transition for workers and communities.
- India at the 2025 WEF:
- Investment Commitments: India secured over Rs 20 lakh crore in investment commitments, with Maharashtra securing nearly 80% of the total.
- States' Contributions: Telangana secured Rs 1.79 lakh crore investment, Kerala emphasized its industrial transformation, and Uttar Pradesh highlighted its vision to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2029 with Zero poverty.
World Economic Forum
- Founded: German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab in 1971 founded the European Management Forum, it became the WEF in 1987.
- In 2015, WEF was officially recognized as an international organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Purpose: To engage leaders from business, government, and civil society to address global challenges and promote economic and social progress.
- Introduced the Stakeholder Capitalism concept, emphasizing that companies should prioritize long-term value creation, benefiting all stakeholders.
- Annual Meeting: WEF Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland, with over 3,000 participants including world leaders, business executives, and economists.
- Focus: Global issues like economic growth, climate change, technology, and geopolitical uncertainties.
- Funding: Primarily funded by global corporations with annual turnovers above USD 5 billion.
- Reports: Global Competitiveness Report, Global Gender Gap Report , Future of Jobs Report, Global Risks Report , and Global Travel and Tourism Report.
- Index: Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI).
- Influence: Has played a role in major diplomatic breakthroughs, such as the creation of the G20.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Prelims
Q1. Which of the following gives ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world? (2017)
(a) World Economic Forum
(b) UN Human Rights Council
(c) UN Women
(d) World Health Organization
Ans: (a)
Q2. Who among the following is the founder of World Economic Forum? (2009)
(a) Klaus Schwab
(b) John Kenneth Galbraith
(c) Hobert Zoellick
(d) Paul Krugman
Ans (a)
Q3. The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the (2019)
(a) International Monetary Fund
(b) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(c) World Economic Forum
(d) World Bank
Ans: (c)
