Top politicians are also attending, among them the boss of the World Trade Organisation, Supachai Panitchpakdi, presidents Vicente Fox of Mexico and Johannes Rau of Germany, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

BBC: Economic gloom at Davos forum

In a show of support, the Presidents of Chile, Mexico, Canada and Peru wrote to House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress appealing for passage of the Colombia FTA, in the name of regional stability, but so far their request has been met with a deaf ear.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: We must stand with Colombia

PRI, Mexico made kings of its presidents for their six-year terms (and nobodies thereafter).

ECONOMIST: The challenge for Vicente Fox is to keep his balance