King attends elite Bloomberg Forum

International Politics

Thursday, September 25, 2025 by King's Office Correspondents

NEW YORK, USA - His Majesty King Mswati III joined global leaders at the 2025 Bloomberg Global Forum in New York yesterday.

The forum, hosted by Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP, brought together top figures from government, business and non-profits to tackle pressing global challenges, including geopolitical shifts, economic fragmentation and evolving power dynamics. Participants sought to reinvent globalisation, unlock growth and foster partnerships for real-world impact, with a special focus on Africa as a hub for innovation, investment and infrastructure ahead of the G20 Summit in South Africa this November.

His Majesty was among confirmed speakers and attendees, including World Bank President Ajay Banga, Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates, Jane Goodall Institute Founder Dr Jane Goodall, actor and philanthropist Djimon Hounsou, WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike, Paulson Institute Chairman Henry M Paulson, Alphabet and Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, African Development Bank President Dr Sidi Ould Tah, Giants of Africa Co-Founder Masai Ujiri and Macquarie Group Managing Director and CEO Shemara Wikramanayake.

The event, held at The Plaza Hotel, featured plenary sessions, keynote addresses, panels, announcements, roundtables and bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening collaboration between heads of state, global CEOs and sector leaders.

Past forums have drawn luminaries, such as Colombian President Gustavo Petro, French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, Apple CEO Tim Cook and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, underscoring the platform’s stature as a catalyst for meaningful change.

Key discussions centred on forging actionable strategies for stability and prosperity. The Global Employment Imperative Breakfast, led by Ajay Banga, examined how governments, the private sector and multilateral bodies can create sustainable jobs for 1.2 billion young people entering the workforce in developing economies over the next decade to eradicate poverty and ensure long-term growth.

Another highlight, the Building Africa’s Sports and Entertainment Ecosystem breakfast, in partnership with the National Basketball Association and Giants of Africa, convened government officials, sports executives and investors to develop an action plan for infrastructure that attracts sustained investment, replicating successful models to drive economic expansion across the continent.

Bloomberg launches global vision initiative

During the forum, Bloomberg announced a US$75 million (about E1.35 billion) initiative by Bloomberg Philanthropies to address untreated vision impairment affecting one billion people globally, 90 per cent in low and middle-income countries. Partnering with Warby Parker, Aravind Eye Care System and the World Health Organisation, the programme will provide vision screenings for 11.5 million people, distribute nearly seven million pairs of eyeglasses and perform 250 000 cataract surgeries in countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and the United States.

“As many as one billion people live with a condition that is an enormous obstacle to success in school and careers: Poor vision. And in most cases, it can be easily fixed,” Bloomberg said. The initiative will expand Warby Parker’s Buy a Pair, Give a Pair programme and Pupils Project, enhance public education to reduce stigma around cataract surgery and improve data systems for better patient outcomes, empowering millions to achieve their potential.

His Majesty joined several prominent figures at the Bloomberg Global Forum hosted by Michael Bloomberg (front centre). (Pics: Courtesy)