How does Davos shape SA?
THE WORLD Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is done and dusted. Now the real work begins.
South Africa’s delegation was headed by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. As in the past they said: “SA is open for business” and should be the preferred destination, or destination of choice to invest. Really??
Right now, I believe, South Africa is the worst destination to invest in and all those who choose this destination will be doing it at their own peril.
You don’t have to be a genius to know that we are headed for junk status by rating agencies and, with unemployment at an all-time high and further retrenchments and closure of businesses on the horizon, who will want to invest here?
Also, we have not been given a critical analysis of decisions taken. In the Business Report I had read Dr Iqbal Survé’s eight-point plan to save our economy.
He also attended the Davos conference. Survé is head of Independent Newspapers and heads Sekunjalo Holdings and holds a lot of clout in the business world. I suggest your newspaper publish Survé’s indepth feature/analysis on Davos. I respect his analysis.
As an independent thinker his input will give a clearer picture of how our economy will shape up. MOHAMMED AHMED
Kloof
I HAVE just returned from Davos, and you may ask why one would leave a beautiful African summer to travel to a Swiss Alpine resort where the temperature plunges below minus 15 degrees.
I have said before that Europe in winter is only good for skiing. But the WEF (World Economic Forum) in Davos is becoming increasingly important, not only for economic growth, but also for the welfare of people on many levels, from education and health to mindfulness.
WEF took place from January 17- 20 and this year’s theme was “Responsive and Responsible Leadership.”
Now, more than ever, this is what the world needs. Responsible leaders in their fields who bear in mind their actions affect billions.
But there is the “Other Davos” that is very rarely spoken about, the Davos where a handful of people attend invite-only events. Their discussions revolve around how technology is harnessed to save lives; highlighting the plight of human trafficking and also providing a glimpse into the horrific conditions refugees face every day.
It’s also a space where the African agenda can be pushed, and while at times it seemed like an insurmountable task, the continent is slowly starting to feel the positive effects of constant lobbying.
I was appointed to the Stewardship Board of the WEF “Shaping the Future of Information and Entertainment System Initiative”.
It’s here that the African agenda can be pushed to ensure Africa benefits from the information and technology revolution. At the Forum Advisors Board dinner, the many examples of how companies are positively impacting on the future indicates a strong hope that humankind is able to address challenges facing us today and in the future.
However, WEF has many critics who say it is where the world’s elite meet, and detractors question how relevant the forum is in a world where populism is gaining ground. It is elitist – you can’t get away from that, it is the businesses elite, the top 1 000 in the world. But it’s also the government, multilateral institutions, academic institutions, civil society groupings (such as Oxfam and Greenpeace), tech pioneers, social entrepreneurs, global shapers and young global leaders.
The notion that people go to Davos just to be seen and then walk away without making a contribution, or seeing a change in themselves, doesn’t work.
It’s a place for networking, hearing what people have to say, and meeting experts.
Panellists come from a cross-section of society and partnerships are born. This year, for the first time, China’s President Xi Jinping was there, a flag-bearer for globalisation at a time when the US is retreating into protectionism.
China sees the world growing globally and the importance of being part of a world-wide movement of people and resources. Even though there has been global economic growth, we cannot ignore the criticism. While living standards have improved for many, the wealth gap has widened and jobs have become redundant, largely due to the impact of technology and globalisation. That is why people like Donald Trump get elected. They say what people want to hear, whether their promises are going to manifest or not.
This is another reason why Davos is important, to make sure that the world does not plunge into a socio-economic-political abyss. One of WEF’s roles in this crucial time is to ensure more people are lifted out of poverty, that gains are made in education, that the notion of education is changed irrevocably, that we pay heed to sustainable development and climate change. But neither business nor government can do this alone.
When I am at Davos or other WEF meetings, I look for partnerships in all spheres. Partnerships worth exploring could be, as an example, with Colombian singer Shakira and American actor Forest Whitaker and the purpose-driven group, Black Eyed Peas.
The former two were recognised for their efforts to improve the lives of young people through conflict resolution and early childhood education. Shakira and Whitaker are doing good, in terms of philanthropy, through their respective foundations. I had the opportunity to engage for the third consecutive year with Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and this year he brought his band members along.
Networking
The band members told their story of how they emerged as migrants from different parts of the world and from the ghettoes of the US, how they had to overcome many challenges, both personal and societal.
Instead of celebrating their success, they’re committed to education for underprivileged groups, especially in the Philippines.
Their session at Davos on “Where is the Love?” was an opportunity to listen to stories of hope such as that of a nomadic woman from Chad, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, co-ordinator of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AF-PAT). Ibrahim could stand on a world stage, talking about how she and her mother were ostracised for refusing that she be a child bride, her fight for education and how she learnt English.
While there are a number of meetings, discussion forums, events and networking sessions, there are also invite-only events. It was at these events where technological innovations were discussed and how it could be used for the betterment of humankind and how mindful story-telling is bringing change to the mind-sets of many people. Orbital Insight developed satellites so powerful that it honed in on a ship used to traffic hundreds of women in Indonesia’s waters. The women were freed and the crew arrested.
The technology was also used to pinpoint where overfishing was happening and, importantly to map climate change. It is this kind of innovation that will guide us into the future, and this is what the Fourth Industrial Revolution can do. While many are hesitant about the fourth industrial revolution, there are technological advances like HealthTap, developed by Ron Gutman.
Using Artificial Intelligence gives millions of people access to credible health information. The “Other Davos” is a place where human resilience is not only celebrated, but where tears can be shed after using augmented virtual reality headsets, to “walk through” a refugee camp and see the pain, horror and suffering that has become the daily reality of millions fleeing from their war-torn countries.
• Survé is the founder and executive chairman of the Sekunjalo Group. He was appointed to the stewardship board of the World Economic Forum’s Shaping the Future of Information and Entertainment System Initiative. He will impart his leadership on media technology and the future of media as a tool for social change.