The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an independent, international organization incorporated as a Swiss not-for-profit foundation. It is striving towards a world-class corporate governance system where values are as important a basis as rules. The motto of WEF is 'entrepreneurship in the global public interest'. It believes that economic progress without social development is not sustainable, while social development without economic progress is not feasible.

The vision for the World Economic Forum is threefold. It aims to be: the foremost organization which builds and energizes leading global communities; the creative force shaping global, regional and industry strategies; the catalyst of choice for its communities when undertaking global initiatives to improve the state the world.

WEF enjoys a unique global standing by recognizing and responding to two new developments:

The world's key challenges cannot be met by governments, business or civil society alone.

In a world characterized by complexity, fragility and ever greater synchronicity, strategic insights cannot be passively acquired. They are best developed through continuous interaction with peers and with the most knowledgeable people in the field.

To carry out its mission, the World Economic Forum has developed an integrated value chain by involving world leaders in communities, inspiring them with strategic insights and enabling them through initiatives.

History and Achievements

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Over the course of its 38-year history, the World Economic Forum has achieved a proud record of accomplishments in advancing progress on key issues of global concern. Among the highlights are:

2008: Under the theme 'The Power of Collaborative Innovation', the Annual Meeting focused on tools for addressing the many challenges emerging as a result of shifting power equations in the world. Collaborative innovation is arguably the last remedy for the stresses of intense globalization that have been evident in financial market volatility and widening income disparities, and in conflict zones around the world. As former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair observed in the closing plenary session, "Globalization is forcing changes in how people collaborate in a fundamental way." He added: "If we are interconnected and the world is interconnected, the only way for the world to work is to have a set of common values. We have no option but to work together."

2007: German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, set out Germany's G8 presidency objectives of "growth and responsibility" at the Annual Meeting 2007. More I Germany's G8 presidency objectives

2006: Trade officials meeting at the Annual Meeting 2006 agree to accelerate talks to achieve a world trade deal. Some 25 trade ministers agreed to move on all key issues - agriculture, services and manufacturing - at the same time.

2006: The Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis (2006-2015) is launched by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown and Bill Gates at the Annual Meeting 2006. The project - a coalition of over 400 organizations – aims to treat 50 million people and prevent 14 million tuberculosis deaths worldwide over the next ten years.

2006: The Annual Meeting 2006 gives sports leaders a voice. They presented their ideas on sport as a personal and social development tool, and called for new efforts to increase the impact of sport on society.

2005: The World Economic Forum works closely with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, to set his G8 policy priorities of poverty alleviation in Africa and climate change. The Annual Meeting 2005 served as a platform for Mr Blair to launch his G8 agenda.

2005: An advisory board created and led by the World Economic Forum helps shape Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair's G8 climate change agenda. The board, consisting of 24 global company chiefs, presented to G8 leaders at their annual summit a statement calling on governments to establish 'clear, transparent and consistent price signals' through the creation of a long-term policy framework that includes all major emitters of greenhouse gases.

2005: Over 350 business leaders at the World Economic Forum's Africa Economic Summit sign a declaration endorsing the Commission for Africa's recommendations for the multibillion dollar aid plan. The letter was presented to G8 leaders at their annual summit.