Davos elite face cold reality of economic task

More than 2,500 political and business leaders are swarming into the small Alpine town of Davos, Switzerland - and it isn't for the skiing. They're looking for solutions.

They will discuss how to push globalization at a time when it's challenged by rising populist and protectionist forces, which have been buoyed by the United States presidential election victory for Donald Trump, who will be sworn in on Friday, the same day the World Economic Forum is scheduled to conclude.

Visiting the Davos Congress Centre on Saturday, three days before the opening of the annual meeting, I saw workers busy making final preparations - in cold, heavy snow - to improve the infrastructure and logistics. It's a good metaphor for the current condition of the world economy, which is trying to fill its loopholes amid chilly growth prospects and challenges such as segmentation and the development gap.