This year’s theme will be “Towards the Common Good”.

The third edition of the Zermatt Summit – an initiative of the Zermatt Summit Foundation – will take place in Zermatt, Switzerland, June 21 – 23, 2012.

The Summit will draw a select group of 200 entrepreneurs, economists, politicians and NGO representatives from diverse sectors and from across the globe, who share a vision for a globalization process with more humanity, the promotion of the Common Good, and placing the human person at the centre of globalization and economic activity.

What is “the Common Good”?

This year’s central theme, Towards the Common Good will be featured in discussions and debates throughout the Summit. The Common Good is too often confused with the general interest and despite the fact that it sounds rather philosophical, appears in fact to be a very pragmatic and powerful tool to guide individual as well as collective action. A timely topic while the entire world is facing one of its most difficult crisis. Implicit in the Common Good is full respect for both individual and society’s collective interests. The Zermatt Summit will focus on the respective roles and responsibilities of institutions and individuals from the perspective of furthering the Common Good.

Among this year’s many prominent speakers and experts on the subject are:

• Carlo D’Asaro Biondo, President of Operations for Europe, the Middle East & Africa at Google.
• Michel Meunier, President of France’s Centre for Young Business Leaders, “The Dream of the Entrepreneur Award”.
• Patrick Dixon, Chairman of the trends forecasting company Global Change Ltd, Founder of the international AIDS agency ACET, and Chairman of the ACET International Alliance.
• Chandran Nair, CEO and Founder of the Pan-Asian think-tank GIFT (Global Institute For Tomorrow), Former Director at UNESCO.

Three days will be devoted to reflection on globalization and the direction for further works. Christopher Wasserman, President of the Zermatt Summit Foundation, commented:

Our mission is to bring together actors and partners for the purpose of humanizing the process of globalization and formulating practical recommendations.