Davos 2025: World leaders gather for annual WEF meet; Who's coming, what to expect?

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will kick off on Monday in Davos, the picturesque Swiss town, where the rich and powerful from across the globe will gather to set the year's agenda for how leaders can make the world a better place for all.

The high-profile gathering, from January 20 to 24, will see more than 350 governmental leaders, including 60 heads of state and government, participate in the five-day event.

Who’s participating in WEF 2025?

US President-elect Donald Trump will via live video link for an interactive dialogue with participants after he assumes office on Monday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz are among the prominent leaders scheduled to participate in Davos 2025. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also be present.

India is sending a high-powered delegation led by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who will highlight the country’s rapid digital transformation and economic growth. Union ministers CR Patil, K Ram Mohan Naidu, Chirag Paswan, and Jayant Chaudhary are also expected to attend the event.

State leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, will promote investment opportunities in their respective regions. Fadnavis is expected to sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for data centres, automobiles, semiconductors, electric vehicles, electronics, steel, food processing, textiles, pharma, infrastructure and other sectors.

Naidu plans to promote "Brand AP" and present the state as an attractive investment destination to global business leaders and industrialists.

A statement on Saturday mentioned that Naidu will hold talks on green hydrogen and also meet chief executives and chairpersons of companies such as Coca-Cola, Welspun, LG, Carlsberg, Cisco, Walmart International, Cognizant Technologies and others, among several engagements.

The event will host over 1,600 business leaders, including more than 900 top CEOs and chairs from WEF’s members and partners.

Leaders from international organisations will also be present, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

What to expect on Day 1

On Day 1 of the WEF meeting, three exceptional Cultural Leaders will be recognized at the Crystal Awards ceremony for their efforts in challenging conventional thinking and fostering inclusivity. The Opening Concert will blend classical music, electronic compositions, and AI-generated visuals to emphasise the importance of preserving glaciers.

Security beefed up in Davos

Given its high-profile attendees, Davos has transformed into a fortress. The Swiss Parliament authorized the deployment of up to 5,000 military personnel, supplemented by advanced security technologies such as drones and AI-powered surveillance tools. Air traffic restrictions are in effect across Swiss, Austrian, and Liechtenstein territories within a 25-nautical-mile radius of Davos. Special procedures for aircraft accreditation and flight authorization have been established, overseen by the Swiss Air Force, which is conducting surveillance and transport operations using helicopters, propeller planes, and combat aircraft.