Lucy Jay-Kennedy, Associate Director, Public Engagement, Tel.: +1 917 209 9483; lucy.jaykennedy@weforum.org
New York, USA, 24 September 2014 – Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, received the Order of San Carlos for over four decades of dedicated and notable work. The Order of San Carlos honours Colombian citizens, foreign civilians and military officers who have made outstanding contributions to the nation of Colombia, especially in the field of international relations.
The prestigious honour was bestowed by Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia, who was accompanied by María Ángela Holguín, Minister of Foreign Relations of Colombia; Cecilia Álvarez-Correa Glen, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia; Gabriel Vallejo López, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia; María Emma Mejía Vélez, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations, New York; Luis Carlos Villegas Echeverri, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United States; Tatyana Orozco, Director of the Department of Social Prosperity, Colombia; and others. The ceremony also convened international leaders from business, government, civil society and the cultural world.
The World Economic Forum, founded in 1971, has been committed to bringing together business, government and civil society leaders to work towards solutions on pressing global issues. “The Order of San Carlos is an honour, and one that reflects the successes achieved by the World Economic Forum through engaging not only governments, but also private sector and civil society leaders,” said Professor Schwab. “All sectors have an important role to play in today’s international relations, and the Forum has created a space for the search for meaningful and innovative solutions to the challenges of our times,” he added.
In his role as Executive Chairman, Professor Schwab has been a strong voice for collaboration and dialogue, as well as an ardent advocate of the individual’s role in safeguarding the collective future. The vision and determination he has demonstrated over the years to commit world leaders from all sectors to a better tomorrow inspired the Government of Colombia to bestow the prestigious decoration on Professor Schwab.
Notes to Editors:
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