As the World Economic Forum (WEF) prepares to gather at its annual meeting next week, on Wednesday 29th January all eyes are set on Davos, the small town in the Swiss Alps where the meeting is held. The agenda at this year’s meeting will be dominated by the economic crisis, which unfolded in a domino effect troubling nations across the globe.

More than 2,500 participants from 96 countries will get together, including a record 41 heads of state or government. Heads of state, finance ministers and central bankers from over 60 countries, as well as chairmen and CEOs from over 200 of the world’s leading financial institutions will be in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland to engage in these discussions. Amongst the most prominent figures to attend this year, we have Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, and Gordon Brown. Newly inaugurated U.S. President Barack Obama will not be attending the forum.

Apart from the economic crisis, world leaders and attendees will also look into climate change as well as food and water security.

Image by scobleizer under Creative Commons