The 40th anniversary of the Annual Meeting is a defining moment for world leaders as they meet under the theme "Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild",held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 27 - 31 January. Over 2,500 leaders from over 90 countries representing business, government and civil society will work together on pressing challenges.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an independent, international organization incorporated as a Swiss not-for-profit foundation. It is striving towards a world-class corporate governance system where values are as important a basis as rules. The motto of WEF is 'entrepreneurship in the global public interest'.

It believes that economic progress without social development is not sustainable, while social development without economic progress is not feasible.

The vision for the World Economic Forum is threefold. It aims to be: the foremost organization which builds and energizes leading global communities; the creative force shaping global, regional and industry strategies; the catalyst of choice for its communities when undertaking global initiatives to improve the state the world.

WEF enjoys a unique global standing by recognizing and responding to two new developments:

The world's key challenges cannot be met by governments, business or civil society alone.

In a world characterized by complexity, fragility and ever greater synchronicity, strategic insights cannot be passively acquired. They are best developed through continuous interaction with peers and with the most knowledgeable people in the field.

To carry out its mission, the World Economic Forum has developed an integrated value chain by involving world leaders in communities, inspiring them with strategic insights and enabling them through initiatives.