ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to journey to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday to take part in a two-day special assembly of the World Economic Forum (WEF) centered on ‘Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development’.
His attendance at the WEF meeting was extended by Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, along with WEF Founder and Executive Chairman, Professor Klaus Schwab.
Accompanying the prime minister will be key members of the federal cabinet, as stated by the PM Office Media Wing in a press release.
During the assembly, Prime Minister Sharif will articulate Pakistan’s stance on health, financial technologies, information technology, comprehensive development, regional cooperation, and the fair and sustainable utilization of energy for global advancement.
Concurrently, he is expected to conduct bilateral discussions with global leaders, heads of international organizations, and other notable figures on the sidelines of the WEF gathering.
The Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development, slated for April 28th to 29th, 2024, is anticipated to attract about 1,000 leaders from business, government, and academia, according to a statement from the WEF.
This assembly aims to explore fresh approaches to reignite global growth amidst the challenges presented by an increasingly fragmented geopolitical and economic landscape.
It builds upon last year’s inaugural Growth Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland, and will delve into three central themes: fostering global collaboration, formulating a framework for inclusive growth, and mobilizing efforts for energy-driven development.
Notably, the event seeks to bridge the widening North-South gap, particularly evident in debates surrounding emerging economic policies, the energy transition, and geopolitical disruptions.
The program of the meeting encompasses a range of urgent global issues, including geopolitical tensions such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, designing novel economic growth models for enhanced global living standards, advancements in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, supply chain restructuring, and the imperative of promoting an equitable and sustainable energy transition.