Special address now by British prime minister David Cameron. Saying that these are perilous times for the world and especially Europe.
British prime minister David Cameron
"While China grows at 8 percent, India at 7 percent and Africa at 5 percent, Europe is only growing at 0.6 percent", he said. Added that Britain wants more focus on business in Europe and all plans should see if they can kickstart growth. He wants an EU free trade agreement with India by the end of the year.
The Big Question at Davos, though, is clearly the entire uncertainty around Europe. Will there be a Greek default, and if so, will it be orderly. And will the Euro survive?
German chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel made a speech yesterday where she pledged that Europe would survive but that reforms are needed. Cameron will be speaking in a couple of hours.
Also read: Europe needs to create more jobs: Merkel
Now watching a good session on Food Security with Bill Gates and others. They all seem to be saying that is a big step that countries like China and India are now working on doing something about Food Security.
By the way, it's quite remarkable how Bill Gates is now only called for sessions on these social issues. A man who was once an businessmen whom everyone loved to hate has reinvented himself as a saint. Will be interviewing Bill Gates tomorrow! Send me any questions you may have for him.
Here is snow everywhere -- but when you are trekking up and down the streets, which is a key part of the whole Davos experience, what you really need to worry about is the ice. It's black and extremely slippery.
If you don't have snow boots or crampons then you are quite likely to go "slip sliding away". It's happened to me almost every year since I began coming to Davos in 2002. And I saw on TV that there is betting taking place on whether a top UK politician will take a tumble or not. The odds are 16:1, I believe.
India has been so much a flavour of Davos in the past few years. There was the spectacular India Everywhere campaign in 2006 and then India Inclusive last year. This year the mood among the Indian contingent seems to be downbeat, almost depressed.
A top industrialist told me last night, "We are back to being on the sidelines. Back to watching the others take the limelight. Back to the bad old days. It's feeling as if the India story is over."
That may be an exaggeration, but clearly the bouyancy and the euphoria surrounding India has faded a bit. There is a sense that India is missing a great opportunity to shine, because of its internal problems and its inability to fully get its act together.
Also read: Some fun amid gloomy discussion at Davos
China? China always gets attention. And this year countries like Indonesia and Brazil are attracting some attention. Especially the latter. It isn't surprising that Brazil is the host of this year's Grand Soiree -- the big bash that every World Economic Forum Summit at Davos ends with. India was the host in 2006 and 2011. This year - Brazil.
Complete coverage of World Economic Forum at
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