Geneva - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been slated to open the 39th Davos World Economic Forum this Wednesday as world politicians are expected to take centre stage in dealing with the ongoing financial and economic crisis.

Forty heads of state and government are expected to attend the annual event in the Swiss ski resort, more than double the number that attended last year.

On the flip side, several top industry leaders will be absent from the proceedings because they have lost their jobs in recent months in the fallout from the crisis. As such, analysts expect politicians to take the initiative during the discussions about a resolution to the crisis.

The meeting comes in advance of the G20 Group of 20 meeting of the world's largest economies in Washington in April.

Of the 2,500 planned participants, about 60 per cent will be from the world of business. Other expected attendees include German chancellor Angela Merkel, former US president Bill Clinton and former US vice president Al Gore. The current US administration will be represented by Valerie Jarrett, advisor to President Barack Obama. (dpa)