Zuma to attend WEF summit

President Jacob Zuma will attend the 40th Annual General Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to be held in Davos, Switzerland.

The WEF, which takes place from Tuesday to Sunday, will focus on six areas of inquiry including the strengthening of economics, the mitigation of global risks, the ensuring of sustainability and the enhancement of security.

Organised under the theme, "Improve the State of the World: Rethink Redesign and Rebuild," this year's annual meeting comes within the context of promoting a global system of governance.

The pressure to rethink, redesign and rebuild has increased along with concern over the current state of the world financial markets, said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on Monday.

It said that redesign discussions will leverage on the ongoing work of the Forum's Global Redesign Initiative (GRI), an unprecedented multi-stakeholder dialogue focusing on adapting structures and systems of international cooperation to the challenges of the 21st century.

President Zuma is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings with other participating Heads of State and Government, as well as representatives from private corporations on the margins of the forum.

He will be accompanied by Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel; Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan; Minister in the presidency Trevor Manuel; Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies; Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica; senior government officials and a business delegation.

Following the conclusion of the meeting, Zuma will travel to Addis Ababa where he will lead a delegation to the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit. - BuaNews