Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Wall Street Journal - January 20, 2003
Over the course of three decades, the World Economic Forum has grown to a member-based institution of 1,000 of the foremost corporations world-wide.
The Forum's History
2002
The Forum moved its Annual Meeting from its traditional setting in Davos, Switzerland, to New York City in an act of solidarity with the city following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S.
President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa announced that Microsoft would supply free software to all 32,000 government schools in his country. This was possible through the WEF's Global Digital Divide Initiative.
Canada's Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, announced the creation of a C$500 million fund for Africa to support the objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, or NEPAD, through implementation of the G-8 Africa Action Plan. More than 200 African and multinational companies signed the NEPAD's Business Endorsement, committing their businesses to supporting the NEPAD, a few months later at the Africa Economic Summit 2002.
Thirty-six chief executives signed the CEO Statement of the Global Corporate Citizenship Initiative. The statement recommends a framework for action to manage the impact of business on society and to strengthen relationships with stakeholders around the world.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced, at the Annual Meeting, a contribution of $50 million for Africa. This sum included a $20 million donation to the testing of a promising microbicide that could potentially help protect women from HIV/AIDS.
2001
The Global Health Initiative, driven by a partnership between the Forum's member companies, the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, published an executive statement. Among the statement's objectives is a 50% reduction in the disease burden of TB and malaria and a 25% reduction in HIV by 2010. In addition, the Forum assists the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in its efforts to engage the private sector in its activities.
World Health Organization Secretary-General Gro Harlem Brundtland announced a Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization at the annual meeting 2000.
2000
The Forum held its 30th Annual Meeting in Davos.
Recommendations from the Global Digital Divide Task Force were submitted to the G-8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit 2000; most of the proposals were adopted during the summit and are part of its final statement.
1999
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced the "Global Compact" at the Annual Meeting to give "a human face to the global market."
1998
The Forum published its first Africa Competitiveness Report. This new regional study was based on the model of the successful Global Competitiveness Report. It was the first comprehensive competitiveness study on the African continent.
The Business Consultative Council, a group of over 30 heads of business associations from around the world and heads of several U.N. bodies, met for the first time in Davos at the annual meeting. This innovative initiative of the World Economic Forum continues to offer the U.N. the support of business and aims to install a permanent relationship between the business community and the UN system.
1994
Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat reached a viable draft agreement on Gaza and Jericho, moving forward on the road to peace in the Middle East, at the annual meeting.
1993
The first Southern Africa Economic Summit took place and was followed by a second in June 1994, coinciding with the emergence of the first democratic government of national unity in South Africa.
1992
The foundation created a new network, Global Leaders for Tomorrow, composed of young leaders from business, politics, academia, the arts and the media.
The first joint appearance outside South Africa of F.W. de Klerk, Nelson Mandela and Chief Buthelezi brought new impetus to the political transition at the Annual Meeting.
1990
German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and East German Prime Minister Hans Modrow met at the annual meeting, an act which significantly accelerated the process of German reunification.
Bilateral contacts led to the normalization of relations with Vietnam, also at the Annual Meeting.
The first private meeting of all political constituencies of South Africa was held in the Forum's headquarters in Geneva.
1989
Both Koreas met for the first time at the annual meeting for ministerial-level discussions.
1988
After being on the brink of war, Greek Prime Minister Papandreou and Turkish Prime Minister Ozal signed the "Davos Declaration" at the annual meeting.
1987
In order to reflect its increasingly global outlook, the name of the foundation was changed to World Economic Forum.
Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Germany's Foreign Minister delivered his famous "Let's give Gorbachev a chance" speech at the annual meeting in Davos.
This is considered by many historians to mark the beginning of the end of the Cold War.
1982
A special informal gathering of trade ministers from 17 countries, organized by the Forum, spurred the launch of the Uruguay Round.
The first informal gathering of world economic leaders took place on the occasion of the annual meeting in Davos, and brought together cabinet members of major countries with heads of international organizations -- such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization. This continues to serve as a model for similar initiatives in the global public interest, including: the club of media leaders (editors-in-chief), the annual informal gathering of heads of the world's foremost non-governmental economic research organizations, the informal gathering of regional leaders, the informal gathering of global city leaders, and the roundtable of industry and international organization leaders. All take place on the occasion of the annual meeting in Davos.
1979
The Forum published its first annual World Competitiveness Report, marking the debut of the foundation's research activities. The Report's name changed to The Global Competitiveness Report in 1996.
The Forum became the first nongovernmental institution to initiate a partnership with China's economic development commissions, spurring economic reform policies in China.
1976
The foundation transformed itself into a membership organization.
Source: The World Economic Forum
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