WEF

The World Economic Forum, often abbreviated as WEF, is an international non-governmental and lobbying organization based in Cologny, Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, a German engineer and economist. The WEF describes itself as an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

The organization is known for its annual meeting held in Davos, Switzerland, which convenes prominent figures from business, politics, academia, and civil society to discuss pressing global issues. These discussions often lead to the publication of various reports and indices on topics such as global competitiveness, gender equality, and travel and tourism. The WEF also hosts regional meetings throughout the year in various locations. Its activities are funded by the contributions of its member companies and other partners. The WEF's stated mission is to "improve the state of the world" by fostering public-private cooperation.