Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to Attend World Economic Forum Meeting in Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan is scheduled to visit Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from April 28-29, 2023 to participate in a special session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on "Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development." He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during the visit, which comes at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and WEF Founder Klaus Schwab.

The high-level WEF meeting is expected to bring together around 1,000 leaders from business, government, and academia from over 90 countries. Discussions will focus on actions taken since the inaugural Growth Summit held in Geneva, Switzerland earlier in 2023, with the aim of addressing pressing worldwide challenges across three main themes: revitalizing global collaboration, fostering inclusive growth, and catalyzing action on energy for development.

Prime Minister Sharif's participation will provide an opportunity to present Pakistan's objectives on the global stage, including enhancing global health architecture, promoting inclusive growth, revitalizing regional collaboration, and balancing economic growth with energy consumption. "The high-level participation will provide an opportunity to highlight Pakistan's priorities in global health architecture, inclusive growth, regional collaboration, and the balance between growth and energy consumption," a spokesperson stated.

Why this matters: The World Economic Forum meeting in Saudi Arabia brings together influential global leaders to discuss critical issues impacting economic growth, energy, and international cooperation. Pakistan's participation allows the country to advocate for its interests and strengthen ties with key partners in the region and beyond.

In addition to the WEF session, Prime Minister Sharif and Foreign Minister Dar are expected to hold bilateral meetings with various world leaders, heads of international organizations, and other prominent figures on the sidelines of the event. These discussions aim to further Pakistan's diplomatic and economic objectives. Following the WEF meeting, Sharif is also scheduled to visit Banjul, Gambia from May 4-5, 2023 to attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference, where he will express Pakistan's concerns over regional conflicts and advocate for the rights of Muslim communities worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit Saudi Arabia for WEF meeting on global collaboration and energy
• Meeting to bring together 1,000 leaders to discuss revitalizing global cooperation and growth
• Sharif to present Pakistan's objectives on global health, inclusive growth, and energy balance
• Sharif and FM Dar to hold bilateral meetings to further Pakistan's diplomatic and economic goals
• Sharif to also attend Islamic Summit Conference in Gambia to address regional conflicts