Horasis, founded by German entrepreneur Frank-Jürgen Richter and headquarterd in Zurich, hosts its annual event this week in São Paulo, Brazil.
The theme of the 2025 Horasis Global Meeting is “Harnessing the Power of Cooperation” – and the problems needing global solutions are mounting up.
Today and yesterday over 1000 speakers from a mix of countries, as well as many government leaders are due to attend Horasis Global Meeting.
The business and political leaders travel to São Paulo, the financial center of Latin America’s most important economy.
As with every previous meeting, the most pressing issues facing the world today will be up for discussion as the invited speakers grapple to find potential solutions. Below are 7 of the key speakers who will eb talking at the international event.
Fahim Hashimi, Former Minister of Communications and Information Technology in Afghanistan
Fahim Hashimi is a government leasder and one of Afghanistan’s leading entrepreneurs. In 2005 he began building one of the largest logistics companies in Afghanistan, focusing on providing critical services and material resources to the Afghan government and international forces. In 2010, Hashimi launched 1TV, Afghanistan’s second largest TV network, the centerpiece of GroupOne, a media production and the strategic communications group MCXI.
He was later the Minister for Telecommunication and Information Technology from 2019 to 2020, and was the second elected President of the Afghanistan Olympic Committee from 2014–2015. He served as the acting vice-president before taking over from Mohammad Zahir Aghbar.
Sekai Holland, Former Minister of State for National Healing Reconciliation and Integration in Zimbabwe
Dr Sekai Holland is a member of the Zimbabwean government and formerly Zimbabwean Co-Minister of State for National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration.
She has dedicated her life to campaigning for human rights, democracy and the empowerment of woman. Her spirit was recognised in 2012 with the Sydney Peace Prize, Australia’s only international prize for peace.
Holland was a founder of Australia’s Anti-Apartheid Movement in the late 1960s. She also helped to establish the Murrawina Child Care Centre in Redfern, and was active within the Aboriginal community during the land rights movement. UTS awarded Holland an honorary doctorate in 2013 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to human rights and the fight for democracy.
Iván X. Eskildsen, Former Minister of Tourism in Panama
Iván X. Eskildsen is the former Minister of Tourism for Panama, serving from 2019 to 2023, during which he was a key figure in championing the country’s sustainable and regenerative tourism model. He has focused on preserving Panama’s natural biodiversity and cultural heritage, empowering local and indigenous communities, and promoting eco-tourism and responsible travel practices.
After his ministerial term, Eskildsen returned to the private sector, taking on senior advisory roles and co-founding OGAYA Travel, a regenerative travel company.
Maria Cristina Frias, Partner, Grupo Folha, Brazil
Maria Cristina Frias is a ournalist and partner of Grupo Folha, one of Brazil’s most important media conglomerates.
Grupo Folha is the second largest Brazilian media conglomerate, after Grupo Globo. It was founded by Octávio Frias and led by his son Luiz Frias since 1992.
Alejandro Valenzuela, Chief Executive Officer, Banco Azteca, México
Alejandro Valenzuela is the CEO of Banco Azteca, one of Mexico’s largest banks.
He has over 20 years of transformational achievement’s as CEO of two mayor financial institutions in Mexico; Banorte and Banco Azteca.
Currently, Chairman of the Board of Banco Azteca and Azteca Servicios Financieros. Fluent in Spanish, French and English, with a broad global experience having lived in the US, France and Mexico.
Semyon Dukach, Founder Partner, One Way Ventures, United States
Semyon Dukach is an entrepreneur, investor, and former professional blackjack player. He is the Founding Partner of One Way Ventures. As a refugee from the Soviet Union, Semyon has overcome many challenges and is a vocal advocate for change makers and those who see the world differently.
He was formerly the Managing Director of Techstars in Boston, where he helped countless startups grow and succeed. Prior to Techstars, Semyon was a prolific angel investor with over 100 investments to his name, including early investments in Quanergy, SMTP.com, and Vivox. Semyon was named the top VC in New England in the Boston Globe’s 2025 Tech Power Players list.
Princess Nisreen El-Hashemite, director of the royal academy of science
Nisreen El-Hashemite (HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen Bint Prince Mohammed Bin King Faisal (I) Bin El-Sharif Hussein El-Hashemit) is an Iraqi scientist and activist, active in the promotion of women in science and women’s health and development.
She is the only remaining Princess of the Iraqi royal family — her grandfather, Faysal I, was the first king of modern Iraq — and is a direct descendant of Muhammad.