When you think of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, you think of heads of state, CEOs of multinationals and media editors. And you’d be right to think that, but one of the beauties of Davos is that there are also technology pioneers, NGOs, evangelists, creators, consultants, advisors, startups and artists, and everyone else in between — all hanging out together.
That makes Davos an incredibly stimulating and thought-provoking environment to be in; one minute you’re talking to a member of the Indian press, the next you are talking to the CEO of a South African mining company, before sharing a table in a cafe or crowded corner with a Swiss digital start-up entrepreneur. And then there are the days where you just happen to bump into the president of the USA!
A diverse and super busy schedule awaited Team HKEX on Day 2. Chief Executive Charles Li kicked off the day talking live to Bloomberg on the outlook for Hong Kong’s markets, and Chairman Laura Cha soon after gave an in-depth interview to Reuters talking Hong Kong, ESG and what she thought 2020 had in store. We’ll share more details of this interview soon.
LME Chief Executive Matt Chamberlain met with the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal to talk through LME’s pioneering approach to responsible sourcing in the metals industry.
Media engagement continued well into the evening, too, with the HKEX team variously attending the New York Times annual dinner and the Forbes and WSJ receptions. In addition to this, the team held more than 10 productive bilateral engagements with executives from organisations from around the world, and took part in more than 15 sessions hosted by WEF on topics as varied as stakeholder capitalism and how to enable long term investing; getting real about gender equality; and shaping the future of energy and materials.
Undoubtedly the highlight, though, was Charles Li’s attendance at the Forum’s International Business Council Winter Meeting, an invite-only exclusive gathering of global business leaders featuring special guest… US President Donald Trump. Charles talked briefly with the President and shook his hand as he headed to his next engagement.
Whether it’s Presidents or diversity pioneers, no one can ever say Davos is dull! Check out some of the snapshots from the day below.
Day 3 beckons…
