The sixth edition of the World Government Summit (WGS 2018) in Dubai will explore vital future topics including artificial intelligence, space, youth and happiness, climate change and the Global Policy Platform.

 

The event will run from February 11 to 13 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

 

The summit will bring pivotal changes to the structure of the event with a series of specialised international forums to explore vital future topics. The event will also witness the announcement of new initiatives that translate the outcomes of WGS 2017 into action.

 

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future and chairman of WGS, said: “In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the summit has become an incubator for the future and a catalyst to shape global trends. The event has evolved into a leader of change that supports the transformation of the results of scientific foresight into practical applications, solutions and tools that governments can use to improve the quality of life.”

He delivered the statement during the World Government Summit Dialogue in the presence of  Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Ohoud bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing and vice chairman of WGS; Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; and Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and managing director of WGS. 

 

The main partners of the summit and a host of officials, leaders and representatives of local and international media also attended the event.

 

Al Gergawi revealed that the summit will convene 4,000 attendees from 140 countries, including the representatives of 16 international organizations, heads of state, prime ministers and dignitaries from the public and private sectors, in 120 interactive sessions with more than 130 speakers.

 

The list of participants includes presidents of international organizations, such as Jim Kim, President of the World Bank; Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Ángel Gurría, Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of Unesco; Achim Steiner, administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO); and Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

The private sector will be represented by senior executives from the world's leading companies, including Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Group; Maurice Levy, chairman of MSL Group; Sun Yafang, chairwoman of Huawei; Adena Friedman, president of Nasdaq; and Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP.

 

Among the most prominent experts and scholars in attendance are futurist Michio Kaku, author and pioneer of the New Age movement; Deepak Chopra, political scientist; Professor Francis Fukuyama; co-founder of The Huffington Post Ariana Huffington; philosopher Malcolm Gladwell; and biotechnologist Craig Venter.

 

India, the guest of honour

Al Gergawi said: “India has been selected as this year’s guest of honour for its economic and development experience that deserves to be presented as a model for developing countries and emerging economies worldwide. The country has the world’s best executive heads in various fields, in addition to its scientific contributions and programmes in the areas of space and technology.”

 

10 key topics 

Al Gergawi noted that the sixth edition of the World Government Summit will cover 10 topics: Future of Integrated Health and Biotechnology; Future Societies: Human Culture and the Human Development Journey in the Next Century; Climate Change; India's Development Experience; Nation-Branding; The Importance of Hope in Shaping a Better Future for Humanity; Cyber-States; Future of Global Governance; Future of Personalized Education; Cryptocurrencies and the Future of Financial Markets; and New Dimensions of Justice in the Age of Technology.

 

He explained that the agenda will address the topics in a broad manner while putting a spotlight on new concepts, such as justice in the age of technology, government branding, and hope and future prospects, stressing that the Summit seeks to keep pace with the latest trends and develop proactive solutions.

 

5 international forums

Al Gergawi revealed that the most important change to the format of the summit this year is its transformation into a comprehensive umbrella for five international forums addressing the challenges of the future vital sectors. The forums include the Global Policy Platform, the Arab Youth Forum, the Global AI Governance Forum, the Space Settlement Forum and the Climate Change Forum.

 

Global Policy Platform

The summit will also see the launch of the Global Policy Platform that aims to improve people's lives through providing the tools necessary to achieve international consensus on the coordination of government policies for the benefit of communities. - TradeArabia News Service