Political and economic leaders from around the world are making their way to Davos, Switzerland, for this week's annual World Economic Forum meeting. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to fly to Davos on Wednesday, and will deliver a speech titled "Israel -- Innovation Nation." Also attending will be President Shimon Peres.
In Davos, Netanyahu will meet with Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Google chief business officer Nikesh Arora. The prime minister will also meet with international political figures, including Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Netanyahu will be joined on the trip by Prime Minister's Office Director-General Harel Locker and Professor Eugene Kandel, the head of the National Economic Council.
"Israel is an exception on the Western economic scene," Netanyahu said.
"We have succeeded in dealing with the global economic crisis better than almost all Western countries. But we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to develop new markets and new partners, and this is my goal in going to Davos.
"My intention is to talk with leading global high-tech companies, in the cyber and other fields, in order to tell them to come to Israel, invest in Israel and create jobs in Israel. This will be good for them and good for us as well."
Israel's economy grew by 3.3 percent in 2013 and by 3.4 percent in 2012.
Foreign direct investment in Israel was about $10.5 billion in the first three quarters of 2013, above the $9.5 billion seen for the whole of 2012, according to the Bank of Israel.
This will be the 20th time that Peres has attended the World Economic Forum. At a special plenary session at this year's forum, Peres will receive the "Spirit of Davos" award in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of peace, economics and technology.
Peres plans to give a speech in which he will highlight the urgency of achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and the continuing need to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Peres will also talk about Israel's technological achievements.
Additionally, Peres will attend a breakfast with representatives of 40 of the world's leading high-tech companies.
Other world leaders expected to attend the World Economic Forum are U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the presidents of Brazil, Colombia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Ukraine and South Korea.