Special Annual Session of the World Economic Forum in Singapore, rescheduled for August

SINGAPORE: The World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Annual Meeting that was due to take place in Singapore in May has been rescheduled to August.

The Geneva-based WEF, which postponed the event by 12 days in May last month, said on Wednesday 3 February that it will now be held from 17 to 20 August.

“Although the World Economic Forum and Government of Singapore remain confident of the measures in place to ensure a safe and effective meeting, and local transmission of COVID-19 in Singapore remains at negligible levels, the change to the meeting’s timing reflects the international challenges in containing the pandemic,” said the WEF in a news release on Wednesday (Feb 3).

“Current global travel restrictions have made planning difficult for an in-person meeting in the first half of the year. 

“Furthermore, differing quarantine and air transport regulations have increased the lead time necessary to ensure that participants globally can make arrangements to join.”

“Following the announcement, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said that the Government of Singapore “understands the problems” faced by the WEF and agreed to the reschedule.

“We will continue to partner the World Economic Forum closely to host a safe and successful Special Annual Meeting in Singapore,” said MTI in response to media queries.

The first global leadership summit to discuss the complexities of recovering from the pandemic will be the Special Annual Meeting in Singapore in August, the WEF said. Usually, the conference is held in Davos, Switzerland.

“A global leadership summit needs the participation of all global stakeholders,” said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF). 

“The Special Annual Meeting in Singapore in August will provide the place for leaders from business, government and civil society to come together to address the steps for global recovery.”