- Yunus attends 47 events during Davos WEF Summit.
- Engages with 4 heads of state and 10 CEOs.
- Addresses climate and social issues at plenary sessions.
- Holds meetings with UN, WEF leaders, and global influencers.
- To return to Dhaka after a 4-day hectic schedule.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus attended at least 47 events during the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting and other high-level side events in the Swiss town of Davos. His participation included critical meetings with global leaders, addressing pressing issues like climate change, social entrepreneurship, and global economics.
“The Chief Adviser had a very busy schedule during the WEF and attended meetings with several heads of state, heads of government, and prominent figures,” Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Abul Kalam Azad, told BSS.
During the summit, Professor Yunus attended 47 formal events, which included meetings with four heads of state or government, four prominent figures at the ministerial level, ten heads or top executives of UN or similar organizations, ten CEOs or high-level business leaders, nine hosted events (including four official dinners and luncheons), eight media engagements, and two additional programs.
January 21: Arrival and First Day
Professor Yunus arrived in Zurich on January 21 and immediately began a packed schedule. On the first day, he attended seven engagements, including a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He also met prominent global leaders such as East Timor President José Ramos-Horta, Munich Security Conference Chairman Christoph Heusgen, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
January 22: Second Day with 14 Programs
On the second day, the Chief Adviser participated in 14 programs and several side events. He engaged with Wolfgang Schmidt, Head of the German Federal Chancellery and Minister for Special Affairs; King Philippe of Belgium; Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis; Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum from Dubai; UN Secretary-General António Guterres; Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi; John Kerry, former US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate; former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair; and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
Additionally, he addressed a plenary session titled “The State of Climate and Nature” and participated in a social entrepreneurship event organized by the Schwab Foundation.
January 23: Third Day of Extensive Engagements
The third day saw Professor Yunus attend 14 scheduled events and other side programs. He met with key figures, including Sir Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs at Meta Platforms Inc.; Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World; Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International; Robert Mærsk Uggla, Chairman of A.P. Moller-Maersk; and Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank.
He also joined a private meeting hosted by Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum, and spoke at an event in the Climate Hub.
January 24: Final Day in Switzerland
On his final day, Professor Yunus participated in over seven events. Among his engagements, he met American investor Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates and Dalio Family Office. Amer Alireza, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Xenel Group (Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company), also held a meeting with him.
Professor Yunus is scheduled to depart Zurich for Dhaka on Friday night (Swiss time) after completing his four-day visit. He is expected to return to the country on January 25.