Worst is over; bumps and opportunity go together: Premji

DAVOS: The outlook for global economy has turned positive this year and the worst is over even though the road ahead is full of challenges, Wipro Chairman and a co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Azim Premji has said.

"Last 12-18 months have been very difficult for the global economy. However, I think the worst is over, 2010 looks positive," Premji said in his message to the global business and government leaders for the annual WEF meeting here.

The road to recovery, however, would vary in different economies, he said. "While the mature economies are taking time, the emerging economies like India, Brazil and China have already started to show smart growth recovery."

Premji is the sole Indian CEO who has been placed among top six global CEOs by the WEF, that has sought to influence policy-makers, businesses and civil society across the world for the past four decades.

Premji shares the position with Josef Ackermann, Chairman of the Management Board Deutsche Bank, Melinda French Gates, Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Peter Sands, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank; Eric Schmidt, the Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Executive Officer, Google Inc, Ronald A Williams, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Aetna; and Patricia Woertz, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Archer Daniels Midland.