KUALA LUMPUR – Horasis, a Swiss-based independent think tank, will host its 2021 Horasis Global Meeting virtually on June 8, with the participation of over 1,000 global leaders in various fields.
The sixth edition of the annual summit, normally held in the seaside resort town of Cascais, Portugal, was moved online amid the pandemic to discuss potential solutions to present challenges involving businesses, government administration and humanity, in an effort to achieve equality and fair globalisation.
Under the theme “Fostering Shared Humanity”, invited delegates, comprising prominent political, business and social leaders, will convene to propose sustainable pathways, compassionate leadership and collective efforts to forge a better post-coronavirus future, in addition to dealing with pressing and ongoing issues arising in the present times of great uncertainty.
Horasis founder and chairman Dr Frank-Jürgen Richter said there is a sense of urgency to this year’s meeting in light of the global pandemic and its economic impact.
“The world is at a crossroads, where increased international collaboration is needed more than ever to resolve its most pressing issues, including economic inequality, climate change and a path forward post-pandemic,” Richter told The Vibes in a virtual interview.
“The Horasis community of world leaders will be instrumental in formulating actionable plans to lead the global community towards a prosperous, egalitarian future.”
Delegates will debate on how to be entrepreneurial, and at the same time, proactive in advancing sustainable development in the interest of the global public good.
Spearheading Malaysia’s participation in the virtual meeting is PETRA Group chairman and chief executive Datuk (Dr) Vinod Sekhar.
Alongside Richter, Vinod, who is co-chair of the meeting, will present the global meeting’s welcome address and overview, titled “How are we going to implement transformative change post-Covid-19 to foster the sharing community?”.
Additionally, PETRA Group, the strategic partner for Horasis, will also feature Sekhar Institute executive director P. Gunasegaram and Good Capitalism Forum chief executive Graham Kendall as speakers.
Gunasegaram will speak on “The democratic process and the power of humanity”, while Kendall will address “Balancing capitalism’s short- v long-termism” during their respective sessions.
The talks by Vinod and PETRA’s senior executives are aimed at sharing the group’s philosophy of good capitalism – creating shared wealth and prosperity for solutions to global issues.
“I am proud to be associated with Horasis because this is where the world needs to go. This discussion is what the world needs to have. What Horasis is doing now is exactly what we stand for,” said Vinod.
“If you look at all the different discussions, it’s exactly the kind of discussions we want the world to have.
“If you look at the speakers, it’s quite an amazing group of people and leaders from all walks of life and industries, different political thought, but more important than that, this is a time for economic leaders.
“It’s time for economic leaders to stand up and be counted. This kind of platform allows that. We have to stand up and show leadership.”
Richter, meanwhile, said Horasis is looking forward to a long-term partnership with PETRA Group – one based on trust and friendship.
“We are hopeful of doing more together. Vinod is developing PETRA Group not just on opportunistic needs and opportunities, but also focusing on long-term sustainability, which is similar to what Horasis is doing.”
A group of distinguished speakers
Among the political leaders who will be in attendance are Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and Namibian President Hage Geingob.
Others include Japan's Administrative Reform and Regulatory Reform Minister Taro Kono; Germany’s Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Minister Julia Klöckner; North Macedonia’s Defence Minister Radmila Šekerinska; Latvia’s Education and Science Minister Ilga Šuplinska; Egypt’s International Cooperation Minister Rania A. Al-Mashat; Rwanda’s Trade and Industry Minister Béata Habyarimana; Ghana’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; and, India’s Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Private sector leaders include those from top organisations, such as Hank McKinnell, who is a Moody’s USA board member; David de Rothschild, who is Voice for Nature Foundation founder (the United Kingdom); Megan J. Smith, who is shift7 founder and CEO, and former United States chief technology officer; Ibukun Awosika, who is First Bank of Nigeria chairman; Barbara Ann Bernard, who is Wincrest Capital CEO (Bahamas); and, Nadja Swarovski, who is Swarovski Foundation chair (Austria).
Launched in 2016, the annual Horasis Global Meeting is one of the world’s foremost discussion forums, offering an ideal platform to explore and foster cooperation, impact investing and bring sustainable growth across the world.
Horasis, which was founded in 2005 by Richter, is aimed at bringing the best minds and decision-makers from business, government, innovation and other disciplines to look at ways to solve global problems, whether poverty eradication, racial injustice, economic inequality or environmental destruction.
A Greek terminology that loosely translates to “to gaze at, in a vision”, Horasis holds a series of summits throughout the year, including the Horasis Extraordinary Meeting, as well as smaller, country-specific conferences, including the Horasis India Meeting from June 20, and the Horasis China Meeting and Horasis Asia Meeting in Japan later this year.
The Horasis Visionary Circle, meanwhile, is a private meeting of the world’s most influential captains of industry. – The Vibes, June 6, 2021
