RAWALPINDI, Dec 25: The World Economic Forum-2009, opening in Davos on Jan 28, will focus on promoting stability in the financial system and reviving economic growth as global economy currently faces crisis.

The five-day annual meeting, titled “shaping the post-crisis world,” will explore six pragmatic tracks: ensuring effective global, regional and national governance for the long-term; addressing challenges of sustainability and development; shaping values and leadership principles for a post-crisis world; catalyzing the next wave of growth through innovation, science and technology; and understanding the implications on industry business models.

Over 700 members of 69 Global Agenda Councils met in Dubai last month to advance solutions to the most critical challenges facing humanity. Their insights and recommendations will help catalyse solutions for the manifold challenges the world may face in 2009.

An announcement made by the Forum says the international landscape will be radically altered as a result of the present global economic crisis.

Countries, communities and companies are being forced to review their assumptions about the future and to rethink their strategies in the light of the global transformation taking place.

An early conclusion is that complexity and interdependency are not only characteristics of globalization but are also at the root of a systemic crisis. Therefore, future solutions will need to be developed in a holistic and interdisciplinary way to ensure that the concerns of all stakeholders are addressed and a broad-based backlash is avoided.

The imperative going forward will be to “connect the dots” to understand the relationship between issues, interests and institutions in order to catalyze solutions for the long term, the announcement says.

The 2009 WEF annual meeting promises to be one of the most important events in forum’s history. Fortytwo heads of state and government have already confirmed their participation in Davos-Klosters, where they will join business leaders as well as NGOs, trade unions and experts from a wide range of fields.

The meeting will focus on managing the current crisis and shaping the entire post-crisis agenda, from economic reform to climate change. Pakistan is a regular participant of the forum.

During the five-day meeting, over 2,500 participants from 91 countries will gather in Davos.

Other major categories of participants from around the world include: 219 public figures, including 42 heads of state or government, 64 cabinet ministers, 30 heads or senior officials of international organisations and 10 ambassadors.

More than 432 participants from civil society, including 32 heads or representatives of non-governmental organisations, 225 media leaders, 149 leaders from academic institutions and think-tanks, 15 religious leaders of different faiths and 11 union leaders, will attend the conference.