President Kgalema Motlanthe to meet Gordon Brown and Felipe Calderon on the Margins of World Economic Forum (WEF) Meeting, Davos Switzerland

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 01 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 organized 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, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba for the forthcoming African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government.

Issued by Mr Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria, 0001

28 January 2009