WEF launches new senior advisory board for South Asia at Davos
With the theme of “Responsive and Responsible Leadership”, the annual meet of World Economic Forum (WEF) got underway at Davos last Tuesday. The annual meeting in Davos remains a global platform unmatched in engaging leaders from across business, government, international organizations, academia and civil society in peer-to-peer working sessions.
In line with growing influence of South Asian countries in global affairs and on account of having some of the fastest growing economies in the world, the Forum had this year formulated a senior advisory board called the South Asia Regional Strategy Group (RSG) consisted of senior government officials, business leaders, academics and experts.
The invitation only flagship group and its members are committed to the shared mission of accelerating the regional transformation of South Asia through public-private cooperation. The RSG provides strategic guidance on the Forum’s regional agenda, and is the highest-level decision making body for the Forum’s activities in South Asia.
The South Asia RSG is chaired by Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog who will be supported by two Vice-Chairs, Ajay Khanna, Chief, Strategic and Public Affairs, Jubilant Bhartia Group and Srivatsan Rajan, Chairman, Bain & Company. The multi-stakeholder group also comprises big names in government, business and academics including Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, Sri Lanka, Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Lulu Financial Group, Gita Gopinath, Professor of Economics, Harvard University, Nikhil Meswani, Executive Director, Reliance Industries and Shamina Singh, President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, among others.
“The World Economic Forum has been at the helm of creating a better tomorrow, through its engagement with local and global leaders across continents. I believe that the new South Asia Regional Strategy Group will be able to create changes on ground in key areas across the region and will allow greater private and public co-operation that enhances community development,” said Adeeb Ahamed.
The RSG is expected to identify critical issues, challenges and opportunities in South Asia and debate on how to address them. They would also be engaged in ongoing initiatives, provide guidance and advice to develop regional projects while helping mobilize action. The projects will be constantly monitored by the group and ensure value delivery and impact in the region.