World Economic Forum
The founder and permanent leader of the WEF is Professor Klaus Schwab. On his initiative, the first symposium was held in 1971, bringing together about 450 leaders of leading European companies to discuss the prospects for the world economy and develop a common strategy. At the first meetings, which were held under the auspices of the Commission of the European Communities (now the European Commission), the issues of improving the position of Western Europe in the competitive struggle were discussed mainly. Over the years, the topics gradually expanded, the agenda included political and economic issues affecting other regions, problems of improving the mechanism of world trade, correct partnership. In the mid-1970s, influential people from all over the world (members of governments and business leaders) began to be invited to Davos, and in the next decade the forum acquired the status of one of the main events of the year.