Over 400 to take part in WEF summit Saturday, 29 May 2010 04:02

DOHA: The World Economic Forum Global Redesign Summit will formally open here on Sunday at the Sheraton Doha Hotel with conference participants expected to focus their discussions on proposals for improved international cooperation.

More than 400 participants from over 60 countries including experts, policy-makers, government leaders, and business and civil society representatives will attend the global event. The Summit is hosted in collaboration with the government of Qatar.

Officials said the Global Redesign Summit in Doha will be a moment of transition from incubation of these ideas in Forum meetings to when the proposals that enjoy support may be picked up and carried forwards to governments, business and others who are willing to become their champions.

The Summit will be organised into four general tracks including development, economic, security and sustainability to address the interests of leaders from business and society, ministers and government officials.

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the concrete proposals with senior officials from finance, trade, energy, environment, foreign labour and other relevant ministries.

They will also have the chance to challenge government representatives to present their strategic vision of the structural upgrades in international institutions and arrangements that would be stronger, more sustainable and more inclusive economic growth.

Since the financial crisis began, the World Economic Forum has provided a platform through its Global Redesign Initiative for business, political and civil society leaders to examine gaps in international cooperation and develop proposals to overcome some of these shortcomings.

More than 1,200 of these leaders from the academic, policy, business and non-governmental communities have been working as part of the Forum’s Global Agenda Councils. A brainstorming of more than 700 experts was held in Dubai in November 2009 while the whole Forum network, including industry groups, Young Global Leaders and Social Entrepreneurs, have also contributed ideas. In parallel these discussions have run through the Forum’s Regional and other Summits.

The Peninsula