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Geopolitics takes front and centre at Davos 2015, elbows climate change and rest aside

Having arrived in Davos ahead of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting which starts tomorrow, Alec Hogg provides some guidance on the issues that are likely to dominate discussion over the next few days. He expects Ukraine, Switzerland, Greece and the Euro to lead the conversations. AH

ALEC HOGG:  Well, here we are.  I’m Alec Hogg from Biznews.com at the World Economic Forum’s 45th meeting.  It’s in Davos, in Switzerland – the highest town in Switzerland – and as you can see from the air coming out of my mouth; this is a pretty cold place, particularly in the evening where it is below zero.  What’s on the agenda this year?  Lots of interesting news to be absorbed by the delegates who arrive here.  There’s the big shock last week of the Swiss Franc going up by more than 20 percent.  It’s hit this resort town quite hard.  Hoteliers are not terribly happy about that and I’m sure that many of those who are coming along here will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets.

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The big issues though, are geopolitics.  I’ve been going through the agenda and there’s quite a lot on the agenda as well – about the Internet, and how that’s changing our Age (communication and media).  I’m going to come here and really, listen this time around.  Not that it’s any different to other years, but really listen closely because the global economy is in an interesting place. 

The Americans are pushing hard again.  China still says it can grow at seven percent.  The Europeans are muddling through, it appears and in Africa, with 60% of the exports being oil-driven, there are concerns that maybe the African Renaissance – this wonderful run that we’ve had for the last ten years – is not going to be sustained into the future.

All of those things, plus we have a strong contingent here from Russia.  We have the President of the Ukraine.  We have Angela Merkel from Germany and I’ll be privileged to be in both of those sessions – both with her and her small group, and with the President of the Ukraine in a small group, as well so lots that we’ll be bringing back to you in South Africa.

Right now, at below zero in Davos, this is Alec Hogg for Biznews.com.
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