Kenny to address world leaders at WEF in Davos

Taoiseach Enda Kenny heads to Davos in Switzerland today to attend the World Economic Forum, the annual gathering of political and business leaders.

Mr Kenny will participate in a series of discussions “on the structural, economic and political issues facing political leaders across the globe”, a spokesman said.

“The Taoiseach will also undertake a series of bilateral meetings with business and political leaders with a view to outlining Ireland’s progress towards economic recovery and highlighting the benefits of Ireland as a destination for international investment.”

Davos is seen as a gathering of power brokers, where prime ministers and presidents mingle with Fortune 500 CEOs and investment bankers.

Attending this year will be German chancellor Angela Merkel, British prime minister David Cameron, and US treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, as well as a range of executives from companies like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Intel.

Mr Kenny will tonight attend a private reception hosted by forum founder Klaus Shwab before events tomorrow and Friday.

It is understood these events will include bilateral meetings with the Finnish and Danish prime ministers.