DAVOS
\nAs the last of the private jets left Davos on Friday, many were asking: What exactly was achieved at the annual meeting of the global elite?
\nOne WEF official said wearily: \u201cThey ask that every year, but it\u2019s not really the point. It is always good to talk to different people, and as somebody said, if you\u2019re talking it means you\u2019re not fighting.\u201d
\nBut it is an increasingly touchy subject for the WEF. The forum pointedly issued a press release on the final day listing \u201c33 ways Davos 19 made an impact on the world.\u201d From resolutions and understanding on climate change, to statements of intent on economic policy and international relations, they were all worthy developments.
\nGlobal themes were the biggest newsmakers. The US-China \u201ctrade war\u201d was probably the most often-heard phrase, followed by growing concern over the global economy; Brexit was never far from the top of the agenda; Venezuela dominated proceedings toward the end of the week. Climate change and environmental concerns were also dominant, partly because of the eloquent advocacy of Sir David Attenborough.
\nThe Middle East was a constant theme too, not least because of the big presence of leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Arab states. Most sessions on Middle East subjects \u2014 from security to economic transformation to energy\u2014 were packed.
\nIn any case, most business leaders attend not to learn about the latest trends in robotics or the arts, but to do business.
\nOne global corporate chief told Arab News he had fitted 50 \u201cbilaterals\u201d \u2014 deal-doing business meetings \u2014 into three days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DAVOS As the last of the private jets left Davos on Friday, many were asking: What exactly was achieved at the annual meeting of the global elite? One WEF official said wearily: \u201cThey ask that every year, but it\u2019s not really the point. It is always good to talk to different people, and as somebody […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n