Making the world a better place?

As the curtain comes down on the World Economic Forum8217;s Annual Meet 2006 and bleary-eyed delegates gather for the concluding plenary, i...

As the curtain comes down on the World Economic Forum8217;s Annual Meet 2006 and bleary-eyed delegates gather for the concluding plenary, it would be naive to claim that Davos 2006 had thrown up answers to any of the issues posed at the opening plenary.

This is not to dispute the need for a 8216;Creative Imperative8217; to look at issues such as the emergence of India and China, the changing economic landscape, new mindsets and attitudes, creating future jobs, regional identities and struggles, building trust in public and private institutions, effective leadership in managing global risks to innovation, creativity and design strategy. But it8217;s doubtful if the more than 200 sessions spread over five days of intense brainstorming among the best and the brightest in the worlds of business, finance, economics, politics and academia had thrown up anything that could qualify as a truly creative idea.

Measured by that yardstick, WEF 2006 then was nothing more than another talk-shop, one where under the guise of lofty ideals, networks were established/ renewed and the grounds laid for more serious business later on. However, measured against its lofty objective 8212; of improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas 8212; WEF 2006 can justifiably claim to have more than contributed its mite.

Yes, in many ways WEF may be a reunion of the rich and powerful at an exclusive Alpfest. But when stars like Google8217;s co-founder Larry Page, Deutsche Bank8217;s Joseph Ackerman, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Germany8217;s chancellor Angela Merkel, to name just a few, take time off to brainstorm on issues normally relegated to the periphery of their minds, it cannot but give them a larger world view. One that is critical, in the case of nations, for peace and better understanding in the world. And, in the case of companies, for success in a globalising world.

As Bharat Forge8217;s Baba Kalyani put it, it was the WEF that first opened his eyes to the possibility that he too could forge a globally competitive company that today ranks among the best in the world. So how does that contribute to making the world a better place, you might ask. It may make for a better company, but a better world? Incredible as it sounds, the answer is a resounding 8216;yes8217;. The reason is there8217;s no way any company can do business in a dozen countries round the world without in some way improving mutual understanding between different cultures, beliefs, faiths. Ultimately, it is this ability to empathise with another world view, quite different from one8217;s own, that makes the world a better place.