The Global Competitiveness Report for 2008-2009

The World Economic Forum, an independent, international organization incorporated as a Swiss not-for-profit foundation, was founded on the belief that economic progress without social development is not sustainable, and social development without economic progress is not feasible. Its Vision is threefold:

1. It aims to be the foremost organization which builds and energizes leading global communities;
   
2. It aims to be the creative force shaping global, regional and industry strategies; and,
   
3. It aims to be the catalyst of choice for its communities when undertaking global initiatives to improve the state the world.

The World Economic Forum annually hosts a Global Summit, in which it brings together the world's leading minds from academia, business government and society to address the most important global challenges in a collaborative, integrated and proactive way.

At the past Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which took place from November 7-9, 2008, 700 of the world’s leading minds who are Members of the Network of Global Agenda Councils, gathered to address the most important challenges facing the world in a collaborative and integrated way. Global Agenda Council Members addressed ways to tackle governance gaps at the local, regional and global levels, as well as examined the new and continued inter-linkages among the various Councils.

The highlights of the discussions were compiled in The Global Agenda 2009, which sets the platform for discussions at the next Summit. For more details go to The Global Agenda 2009.

The World Economic Forum's 40th Annual Meeting will take place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from January 27-31, 2010.