Dhaka: Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Saturday said the forthcoming annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will help Bangladesh encourage multinational companies and foreign investors to invest in the country.

‘Considering everything, we hope our Prime Minister’s coming visit will be very fruitful,’ he told a press conference at the Foreign Ministry.

Minister Ali said the invitation extended to the Prime Minister reflects Bangladesh’s strong role in global issues and strong position in the world map as well.

‘For the first time, the WEF has invited any elected head of the government of Bangladesh to participate in the conference,’ he said.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and senior officials were present.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her entourage will leave here for Davos on Sunday night on a five‐day official visit Switzerland to attend the 47th Annual Meeting of the WEF at the invitation of its founder and Executive Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab.

Foreign Minister Ali, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and senior government officials will accompany the Prime Minister.

The four‐day meeting will be held on January 17‐20 in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland, under the theme ‘Responsive and Responsible Leadership’.

Heads of 45 States and governments, including Sweden, Canada, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Peru, Jordan, Egypt and Qatar and heads of WTO, UNESCO, UNDP, UNCTAD, the World Bank, IMF and ADB will also take part in the meeting.

An Eitihad Airways flight carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage is scheduled to leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:45pm on Sunday.

After a making a stopover at Abu Dhabi, the flight is scheduled to reach Zurich International Airport at 6:45am (local time) on Monday.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to UN Offices M Shameem Ahsan will receive the Prime Minister at the airport.

From the airport, Sheikh Hasina in a ceremonial motorcade will be escorted to Silvretta Parkhotel, where she will be staying during her visit to Switzerland.

On her way to Davos, Sheikh Hasina would make about one hour and 20 minutes of stopover at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNB that during her stay in Davos, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend a number of events of the World Economic Forum and hold talks with WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

On January 17, the Prime Minister will attend the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum at the Congress Centre in Davos. Before the opening of the plenary, WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwann will call on Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina will also join a workshop titled ‘Shaping a New Water Economy’ at the same venue on that day.

In the afternoon, she will attend an interactive session on ‘Harnessing Regional Cooperation in South Asia’ at the Congress Centre.

On 18 January, the Prime Minister will take part in an event titled ‘Worlds Underwater’ as well as the plenary session on ‘Leading the Fight against Climate Change’.

On 19 January, she will attend an interactive session titled ‘Informal Gathering of the World Economic Leaders: Responsive and Responsible Leadership in a Multipolar World’.

Besides, the Prime Minister will attend an event titled ‘Women Leaders Dinner: New Frontiers of Leadership’ to be held at Schatzalp of Davos‐Klosters in the evening the same day.

Concluding her five‐day tour, the Prime Minister will leave Zurich International Airport for Dhaka at 2:35pm ( local time) 20 January and is expected to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:15am (local time) on 21 January  via Dubai.