The fiftieth annual World Economic Forum will officially begin on Monday January 20. Business leaders and government delegates from across the world are expected to attend throughout the week. Here’s a schedule of events. All times given in Central European time (GMT+1): <strong>14:00 – 15:00 IMF world economic outlook update</strong> The IMF is due to provide its latest outlook on the world economy in 2020. Speakers include Gian Maria Milesi Feretti, deputy director of the IMF’s research department. <strong>15:15 – 15:45 How to enable social mobility</strong> Press conference in which public speakers from the WEF will attempt to answer the question of how governments, businesses and citizens can get ahead of the big issues shaping our world. <strong>17:30 – 17:35 Welcome message</strong> WEF founder Klaus Schwab will welcome attendees to the summit. <strong>17:35 – 17:45 Celebration of the 50th anniversary</strong> European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will reflect on the first 50 years of the forum. <strong>17:45 – 18:15 The 26th annual crystal award ceremony</strong> Jin Xing, Theaster Gates and Deepika Padukone are among the speakers honouring cultural leaders improving the world through contributions to inclusive and sustainable change. <strong>18:15 – 19:00 Opening concert: An international call for unity and joy</strong> Conductor Marin Alsop will lead the European Union Youth Orchestra with soloists from China, Japan, South Africa, Brazil and Italy in a new rendition of Beethoven’s ninth symphony on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. <strong>9:30 – 10:15 Shaping the future of energy and materials</strong> Speakers include Centrica CEO Iain Conn and CEO of Occidental Petroleum Vicki Hollub. <strong>9.30 – 10.15 The business case for safeguarding nature</strong> Speakers include Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri and GITI Group Vice Chairman Cherie Nursalim. <strong>9:45 – 10:15 Redesigning democracy in the digital age</strong> Author Glen Weyl explores radical solutions to decision making in the wake of unprecedented technological change. <strong>11:30 – 12:00 Special address by Donald Trump</strong> US President Donald Trump will address the forum after skipping the event in 2019. <strong>13:00 – 13:45 Averting a climate apocalypse</strong> Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is listed among the speakers asking governments and business leaders how they can work together to fight climate change. <strong>13:00 – 14:00 Strategic outlook: Middle East economies</strong> Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh and Saudi communications and technology minister Abdullah Alswaha are due to speak. <strong>14:15 – 14:45 Special address by Han Zheng</strong> China's Vice Premier Han Zheng will give a special address to attendees. <strong>14:30 – 15:15 Testing America’s economic resilience</strong> Gita Gopinath and US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin are slated to talk. <strong>18:00 – 18:45 Stakeholder capitalism: What is required from corporate leadership</strong> Marc Benioff and Jim Hagemann Snabe to speak. <strong>9:00 – 9:45 Geopolitical outlook: The Middle East and North Africa</strong> Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Al Razzaz, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Omani Minister for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah are among speakers to discuss flashpoints that could trigger a global crisis in 2020. <strong>9:15 – 10:00 Debunking the migration myth</strong> Syrian teenage activist Mohamad Al Jounde to speak. <strong>11:00 – 11:30 Special address by Pedro Sánchez</strong> The Spanish Prime Minister will address delegates at the forum. <strong>11:45 – 12:30 The future of fossil fuels</strong> Writer Daniel Yergin, Petronas CEO Wan Zulkiflee and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman slated to speak. <strong>13:00 – 13:45 Strategic outlook: Emerging markets</strong> Saudi Arabian minister of economy and planning Mohammed Al Tuwaijri to speak. <strong>14:00 – 14:40 Securing a sustainable future for the Amazon</strong> Environmentalist Jane Goodall and former US presidential candidate Al Gore lend their weight to the debate on the future of the world’s largest rainforest. <strong>14:15 – 14:45 A conversation with Mohammad Ashraf Ghani</strong> Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani will speak with journalist Hadley Gamble. <strong>14:40 – 15:00 Special address by HRH the Prince of Wales</strong> Prince Charles will give an address to attendees at the forum. <strong>15:45 – 16:15 Special address by Imran Khan</strong> The Pakistani Prime Minister will address delegates at the event. <strong>16:15 – 16:45 Special address by Volodomyr Zelenskiy</strong> Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy will give a special address to delegates. <strong>17:30 – 18:15 The future of American foreign policy</strong> David Rubenstein and Jane Harman are among those listed to discuss how four years of an “America First” foreign policy doctrine have transformed US leadership abroad. <strong>18:00 – 18:30 Special address by Barham Salih</strong> Iraq’s President will give a special address at the forum. <strong>11:00 – 11:45 The G20 priorities</strong> Speakers discussing the strategic priorities for Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency in 2020 include four Saudi ministers. <strong>11:30 – 12:00 The future of Nato</strong> Jens Stoltenberg and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu set to join speakers to discuss the future of the world’s largest military alliance, 70 years on from its founding. <strong>13:00 – 13:45 The return of Arab unrest</strong> Gebran Bassil, leader of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement, to speak. <strong>14:15 – 15:00 Special address by Angela Merkel</strong> German Chancellor Angela Merkel will give a special address to Davos attendees. <strong>14:45 – 15:30 An unsettled Middle East</strong> Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir and Iraqi finance minister Fuad Hussein will join speakers to discuss the strategic impact of instability on the region. <strong>16:00 – 16:45 Power of narratives</strong> <em>The National</em>'s Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi will take part in a discussion on how societies might create narratives for a cohesive and sustainable future. <strong>18:00 – 18:30 Special address by Antonio Guterres</strong> United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will deliver a special address to WEF attendees. <strong>11:30 – 12:00 A conversation with Sebastian Kurz</strong> Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will take part in a discussion with Austrian businessman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe. <strong>11:30 – 12:30 Global economic outlook</strong> Finance and treasury ministers from the US, UK, Germany will round out the Davos schedule in a discussion with economist and Deputy Managing Director of the IMF Zhu Min, and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.
