Skills And Training Are "Key To Challenges Of Globalisation"

Taoiseach Addresses World Economic Forum

The need for a new emphasis on skills, training and adaptability to accelerated change was the key focus of the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos over the weekend

The invitation for the Taoiseach to attend the gathering of CEOs and Chairmen of leading global companies came as the WEF considered "The Shifting Power Equation", and was intended to provide a basis for stronger engagement with Ireland which the Forum recognised as "one of the best performers in Europe in terms of sustained economic growth."

Stressing the importance of unlocking the full potential of available human talent and creativity in all its forms, the Taoiseach said: "Whether it is for children in school, students at our universities and institutes, workers and managers in their respective careers, or indeed to enable people in general to participate fully in society and to realise their full potential, education is key to how we respond to the Shifting Power Equation."

The Taoiseach also outlined the remarkable transformation of the Irish economy since the 1980s, and specifically highlighted the value of the social partnership process in strengthening Ireland's capacity to adapt to the changing challenges and opportunities of an increasingly knowledge-intensive and interconnected global economy.

"For many global companies, Ireland is now a critical international gateway to markets in Europe and beyond; a location of young, highly educated and adaptable employees and an environment that is attuned to the needs of business in the 21st century," he said.

The Taoiseach also emphasised his government's commitment to building on this success, as reflected in the new National Development Plan launched earlier this week. 

"We are investing €25b across the education and training sectors towards improving our human capital over the period of this new plan," he said, "while the niches of excellence in world-class research being targeted through the  €6b Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation that will see a doubling in our output of Ph.D graduates over the next seven years."

In addition to taking part in the Meeting sessions, the Taoiseach also used the opportunity to conduct bilateral discussions with the WEF and with a number of heads of Government, as well as with senior executives of several leading companies, a number of whom have extensive operations in Ireland.

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.  

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests.

The World Economic Forum is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Government. Its membership is drawn from the worlds leading 1000 companies.  

The programme for its Annual Meeting in Davos last weekend was arranged under the overarching theme of 'Shaping the Global Agenda, The Shifting Power Equation'.  

Heads of State or Government of leading nations are often invited to participate in WEF Annual Meetings.