The Hindu Business Line : To meet 21st century challenges — Schwab calls for new global grouping

MR KLAUS Schwab, President of World Economic Forum, on Tuesday called for setting up of `P21' (Partnership 21), a new global group, with 10 developed nations, 10 most important developing nations and the Secretary-General of United Nations as its members to take care of the challenges posed in the 21st century.

Addressing a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) gathering here, Mr Schwab said the challenges needed an integrated and inter-disciplinary approach.

Businesses, governments, non-governmental organisations, international associations and specialists needed to join hands in this regard.

Stating that there is optimism globally keeping 9/11 and the Iraq war behind, he said, "there's a growing upswing. But, there are many imbalances which needed to be addressed."

The two major challenges that needed immediate attention were "divides in most parts of the world and global governance."

"We don't have any global system to take care of challenges such as weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and failed States. How do we deal with failed States," he asked.

Giving a three-point agenda for India to become a developed nation, he said good governance, leapfrog in technology and social entrepreneurship were key factors. While it was important to have a top down revolution, it was equally essential to have a bottom up revolution.

He cited the Andhra Pradesh example of DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) in this regard. (Earlier in the morning, Mr Schwab visited Medchal near here to interact a group of DWCRA members.)

Asking India Inc, to build global brands, he observed that Indian companies should compete globally. "A combination of large-scale entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship is needed," Mr Schwab, who also founded Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, said.

On the controversial issue of outsourcing, he felt that creating a better understanding of globalisation would help solve the issue. "It (outsourcing) is not a win-lose situation. It is a win-win situation," he said.

Heaping praise on Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, the caretaker Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he said the State had become a role model for implementing a comprehensive approach for development. "What is happening here is very interesting. The Government here is very pioneering," he told newsmen later.

Rejecting the observation that Davos (the forum) is a place for the rich and powerful, Mr Schwab said it was place for the best minds, most innovative people and governments. "We are not an ideological forum," he said.

The World Social Forum (WSF) was a forum neo-Communist ideology. "We do not believe in it. We are not an ideological forum. We are pragmatic," he said.

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