Prime Minister to participate in World Economic Forum in Switzerland
Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Dili, January 18th, 2016
Prime Minister to participate in World Economic Forum in Switzerland
The Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, will depart Dili tomorrow, January 19, 2016, on route to Switzerland to participate in the 46th World Economic Forum. Over 40 heads of States and government along with some 2,500 leaders from business and society will gather in the town of Davos-Klosters for the WEF Annual Meeting. The Prime Minister’s participation will enhance the visibility of Timor-Leste on the international stage, build beneficial relationships and provide an opportunity to directly engage with economic experts from around the world.
Key activities to be undertaken in Davos reflect Timor-Leste’s role in championing the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. On Wednesday Prime Minister Rui de Araújo will be speaking along with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven of Sweden, President Alpha Condé of Guinea, Prime Minister Habib Essid of Tunisia and the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on “Operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals”. On Thursday he will meet with the SDG Champions Group, a high-level group working to rally support for the implementation of the new global goals. During the United Nations General Assembly last September Prime Minister Rui de Araújo joined the members of this group, including the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Liberia, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania and Tunisia in declaring “we will make it our joint mission to ensure that no one is left behind.”The group’s meeting in Davos will be an opportunity to report on progress and plan its next steps.
Other meetings to be attended include an interactive session on “Zero Gap: Financing the SDGs” and several side meetings with state officials, business leaders and economic experts. The Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven of Sweden and Vice President to the People’s Republic of China, Li Yuanchao.
The World Economic Forum notes that as the world faces another year with lower than 4% global GDP growth, experts this year will be discussing ways of “attaining inclusive sustainable growth in an environment marked by continued low inflation, subdued oil prices and widespread currency weakness.”
Spokesperson for the Sixth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira said “the trip to Davos will allow the strengthening of relationships built in New York last September as Timor-Leste continues its role in championing the implementation of the SDGs. In our first participation in the World Economic Forum we stand to benefit as a State as we build high-level relationships, learn more from the world’s best on economic diversification and gain insight into the ever changing world economy and the place of Timor-Leste within it.”
The Prime Minister will return to Dili on Saturday the 23rd of January.
