Davos 2020: Key events at the 50th World Economic Forum

Around 3,000 leaders from politics and business are expected at this year's event

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):

Monday January 20

World Economic Founder Klaus Schwab. AFP

14:00 – 15:00 IMF world economic outlook update

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.

15:15 – 15:45 How to enable social mobility

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.

17:30 – 17:35 Welcome message

WEF founder Klaus Schwab will welcome attendees to the summit.

17:35 – 17:45 Celebration of the 50th anniversary

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will reflect on the first 50 years of the forum.

17:45 – 18:15 The 26th annual crystal award ceremony

Jin Xing, Theaster Gates and Deepika Padukone are among the speakers honouring cultural leaders improving the world through contributions to inclusive and sustainable change.

18:15 – 19:00 Opening concert: An international call for unity and joy

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.

Tuesday January 21

Greta Thunberg and Donald Trump are both due to speak at Davos on Tuesday. AP Photo

9:30 – 10:15 Shaping the future of energy and materials

Speakers include Centrica CEO Iain Conn and CEO of Occidental Petroleum Vicki Hollub.

9.30 – 10.15 The business case for safeguarding nature

Speakers include Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri and GITI Group Vice Chairman Cherie Nursalim.

9:45 – 10:15 Redesigning democracy in the digital age

Author Glen Weyl explores radical solutions to decision making in the wake of unprecedented technological change.

11:30 – 12:00 Special address by Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump will address the forum after skipping the event in 2019.

13:00 – 13:45 Averting a climate apocalypse

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is listed among the speakers asking governments and business leaders how they can work together to fight climate change.

13:00 – 14:00 Strategic outlook: Middle East economies

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh and Saudi communications and technology minister Abdullah Alswaha are due to speak.

14:15 – 14:45 Special address by Han Zheng

China's Vice Premier Han Zheng will give a special address to attendees.

14:30 – 15:15 Testing America’s economic resilience

Gita Gopinath and US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin are slated to talk.

18:00 – 18:45 Stakeholder capitalism: What is required from corporate leadership

Marc Benioff and Jim Hagemann Snabe to speak.

Wednesday January 22

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will discuss Middle East flashpoints on Wednesday. AP Photo

9:00 – 9:45 Geopolitical outlook: The Middle East and North Africa

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.

9:15 – 10:00 Debunking the migration myth

Syrian teenage activist Mohamad Al Jounde to speak.

11:00 – 11:30 Special address by Pedro Sánchez

The Spanish Prime Minister will address delegates at the forum.

11:45 – 12:30 The future of fossil fuels

Writer Daniel Yergin, Petronas CEO Wan Zulkiflee and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman slated to speak.

13:00 – 13:45 Strategic outlook: Emerging markets

Saudi Arabian minister of economy and planning Mohammed Al Tuwaijri to speak.

14:00 – 14:40 Securing a sustainable future for the Amazon

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.

14:15 – 14:45 A conversation with Mohammad Ashraf Ghani

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani will speak with journalist Hadley Gamble.

14:40 – 15:00 Special address by HRH the Prince of Wales

Prince Charles will give an address to attendees at the forum.

15:45 – 16:15 Special address by Imran Khan

The Pakistani Prime Minister will address delegates at the event.

16:15 – 16:45 Special address by Volodomyr Zelenskiy

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy will give a special address to delegates.

17:30 – 18:15 The future of American foreign policy

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.

18:00 – 18:30 Special address by Barham Salih

Iraq’s President will give a special address at the forum.

Thursday January 23

The scheduled appearance of Gebran Bassil at Davos has caused anger among supporters of Lebanon's protest movement. Reuters

11:00 – 11:45 The G20 priorities

Speakers discussing the strategic priorities for Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency in 2020 include four Saudi ministers.

11:30 – 12:00 The future of Nato

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.

13:00 – 13:45 The return of Arab unrest

Gebran Bassil, leader of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement, to speak.

14:15 – 15:00 Special address by Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will give a special address to Davos attendees.

14:45 – 15:30 An unsettled Middle East

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.

16:00 – 16:45 Power of narratives

The National'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.

18:00 – 18:30 Special address by Antonio Guterres

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will deliver a special address to WEF attendees.

Friday January 24

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will take part in a discussion on the outlook for the global economy. EPA

11:30 – 12:00 A conversation with Sebastian Kurz

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz will take part in a discussion with Austrian businessman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe.

11:30 – 12:30 Global economic outlook

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.