Davos: Brought to you by the letter T

I headed over to the Coca Cola reception last night, with President Clinton as the guest of honor. It’s an annual do, and a good one. Muhtar Kent, one of the most cosmopolitan and diplomatic CEOs I’ve ever met (his recent Japanese toast to Chinese president Hu Jintao notwithstanding), is always a pleasure to watch holding court. Clinton actually didn’t look so hot, gaunt, and his hands were noticeably trembling. I found that much more upsetting than I would’ve expected. I’m not sure I’m ready for Clinton to get really old.

I was talking with a friend who runs a big Ethiopian company (he’s actively rooting for the Egyptian government to collapse … he says the Ethiopian leadership all believes a failed state in Egypt is better for Ethiopia in the Nile. So we’ve got somebody to go long on if Egypt collapses. Always good to know). All of a sudden one of the Coke guys comes up to me, needs me urgently. Makes me wonder what that could be about.

Turns out the president of Tatarstan is there, Rustam Minnikhanov (Little Khan in Russian?). Who speaks Russian, but no English. And there’s nobody else at the reception that’s a Russian speaker. So that would be me. I ended up keeping him company for a while. Relevant views: ex-Yukos (jailed) CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky should basically be shot. Western oil companies shouldn’t be trusted with equity swaps (he may want to hold down the Medvedev line on that). Nobody needs to worry about security at the upcoming Sochi Olympics. And otherwise reminisced a bit about Kazan. Just in case you wanted the down low on Tatarstan.

Speaking of random head of state visits, I met with Jakaya Kikwete, president of Tanzania for a bit. Charismatic, friendly, and more than willing to talk. But I didn’t expect to meet him and wasn’t sufficiently up to speed on local politics, so we ended up with a little broader Africa banter.

I’m apparently working my way through the T’s. Seriously. Turkmenistan didn’t send anyone (though I actually know the president there reasonably well, long story for another time)…and oddly, the WEF folks just let me know some Tunisian officials want to meet with me. Wonder what that’s going to come to.

Did a bit of the post-dinner receptions after. Completely packed, so you basically go from person to person chatting and make 20 feet of progress in an hour. New social norm I’d like to implement at Davos — don’t exchange cards if a band is playing. Chatted with Sorkin for a bit — he got his luggage back. I passed on the infamous out of town Oleg Deripaska party (unlike the other parties that have end times, his invitation says 10pm until late …). I had very early events scheduled for the morning. Not so for Harvard economist Ken Rogoff. .. who got in around 2:30 … and was thoroughly caffeinated in the hotel lobby as I was leaving. My Davos strategy is get sleep until Saturday.