Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – who is battling the aftermath of this week’s deadly earthquake – will be among 20 heads of state, ministers, CEOs, thought leaders and celebrities who are set to address this year’s World Government Summit in Dubai.
The World Government Summit 2023 will be held from February 13 – 15, under the slogan “Shaping Future Governments,” with global policy, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, the future of jobs, future of society and city design up for debate.
Dubai’s Government has now revealed the list of speakers expected to attend.
Among them are presidents, government officials, ministers, heads of international organizations and companies, thought leaders, global experts and prominent business leaders from the private sector.
They include Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization.
Masrour Barzani, Iraq’s Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, IIham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, Macky Sall, President of Senegal, Mario Abdo Benitez, President of Paraguay, and other leaders will attend.
Public figures including ‘Futurist’ Will.i.am and Twitter CEO Elon Musk are also scheduled to deliver talks during the Summit.
Ahead of WGS 2023, Mohammad bin Abdullah al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the World Government Summit (WGS) Organisation, said the Summit will witness the participation of 20 presidents, more than 250 ministers, and more than 10,000 government officials, thought leaders and global experts around the world.
Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) speaks during the World Government Summit in Dubai. (Reuters)
He added that more than 80 international, regional and governmental organizations will take part in the sessions and forums.
The sessions will also witness the participation of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala GCON, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Arab League Secretary-General; Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Chairman, Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, Jasem Al-Budaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC); the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director and Executive Vice President.
Al-Gergawi added that the summit will host a number of international leaders in the private sector, such as Ray Dalio, Founder, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates; Alan Schwartz, CEO of Guggenheim Partners; Hiroshi Mikitani the founder and CEO of Rakuten, Inc; and Christian Bruch the President and CEO of Siemens Energy.
Also, the summit will host a group of scientists including the economist Esther Duflo and the chemist Dr. Roger Kornberg, Nobel Prize winners.
Six themes
The World Government Summit 2023 will host a set of interactive dialogue sessions within six main themes, including Accelerating Development and Governance, Future of Societies and Healthcare, Exploring the Frontiers, Governing Economic Resilience and Connectivity, Global City Design and Sustainability, and Prioritising Learning and Work.
The agenda includes more than 220 sessions, where more than 300 speakers from thought leaders, global experts and decision makers from around the world will share visions and discuss ideas and strategies towards the future.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the World Government Summit in Dubai on February 11, 2018. (Reuters)
The Summit has signed partnerships with more than 80 strategic, knowledge and media partners, and this year it issued 20 knowledge reports, in cooperation with the most important international research institutions.
The Summit will host a keynote and a dialogue entitled “Ras Al Khaimah… the past, the present and Future,” during which Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi of Ras Al Khaimah, will review the emirate’s vision, its most important experiences within the march of development in various sectors, and the prominent directions toward the future.
The World Government Summit has become a platform for creating and implementing innovations, such as the Museum of the Future, which began as an idea at the 2014 edition of the summit
More than 22 international forums, in addition to a number of first-time forums, such as the Future of Work Forum, the Future of Education Forum, the Experience Exchange Forum, and the Future by Design Global Forum.
The World Government Summit 2023 continues its dialogues in vital sectors, through the ClimateTech Forum, the Food System Transformation Forum, the Global Health Forum, the SDGs in Action Forum, the Government Services Forum, the Women in Government Forum, the Industry and Advanced Technology Forum and the Future of Government Media Forum.
During the summit, high-level ministerial meetings will be held, including the meeting of Arab finance ministers in the presence of the President of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the meeting of Arab youth ministers in the presence of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.
In total, 80 bilateral agreements and major meetings are expected to be witnessed during this current edition of the summit, aiming to provide an opportunity for decision-makers from around the world to consolidate cooperation and exchange visions on future governments.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies
H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.
During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.
He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.
The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.
At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books
As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”
Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.
Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.
Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.
Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.
Automation
The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.
Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.
US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79
US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.
In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.
He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.
President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.