PM Abbasi reaches Davos to attend World Economic Forum

ZURICH: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi arrived here Tuesday to participate in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) — being held in Davos, in eastern Switzerland, from January 23 to 26 — on the invitation of WEF founder and executive chairman Professor Klaus Schwab.

Upon arrival at the Zurich airport, the premier was received by Pakistan's Ambassador in Switzerland Ahmad Naseem Warraich and senior government officials.

Abbasi will participate in a number of important events and hold bilateral meetings with key world leaders, as well as chairpersons and CEOs of fifteen leading multinational organisations from the US, Europe, China, and Japan.

He will interact with heads of states and governments in a special session of the Informal Group of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL).

The prime minister will also participate in a WEF session — titled “The Belt and Road Impact” — today at 1:15pm PST.

The session is also being attended by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Jin Liqun, Caixin Global Managing Director Li Xin, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, AECOM CEO and Chairman Michael Burke, Singapore Minister Chan Chun Sing and China National Machinery Industry Corp Chairman Ren Hongbin. 

Abbasi will also give interviews to major international media outlets including Wall Street Journal, Nikkei/FT Group, Washington Post, CNN, and Reuters.

The premier's participation in WEF offers an opportunity to project Pakistan as a prime destination of business, investment, and trade. Moreover, Abbasi will showcase the country's upward economic trajectory and its huge potential.

It will provide the opportunity to meet a number of world leaders in an informal setting and share views on different issues.

The premier is accompanied by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and other officials. 

Pakistan Peoples Party leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also be attending the forum.