Wednesday, February 19, 2025

India @ Davos: Key Outcomes of 2025 WEF Annual Summit

The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025, held from 20 to 24 January in Davos, Switzerland, brought together global leaders, business executives, and policymakers to address the world’s most pressing challenges. With the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”, this year’s summit focused on fostering partnerships and harnessing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and green innovations to build a more sustainable and equitable global economy.

For India, Davos 2025 served as a landmark event. Indian leaders and delegations showcased the country’s remarkable growth story, emerging technology capabilities, and leadership in green energy and food security. With a prominent role in discussions on global sustainability, AI innovation, and resilient food systems, India @ Davos was a resounding success, culminating in investment commitments exceeding ₹20 lakh crore. The summit reinforced India’s status as a key player in shaping the future of the global economy.

The Historical Significance of Davos for India

India’s engagement with Davos traces back decades, but its significance has grown exponentially in recent years. Historically, Davos has been a platform where countries have redefined their global image. For India, the annual summit became an essential opportunity to shift the narrative from being a developing country to becoming a hub of innovation, technology, and economic dynamism.

In 1984, Rajiv Gandhi became the first Indian Prime Minister to attend Davos, signaling India’s willingness to integrate more deeply with the global economy. Over time, leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi have used Davos to promote India’s investment potential. The forum became a stage to present reforms, policies, and success stories that emphasized India’s capabilities in technology, manufacturing, green energy, and infrastructure development.

India’s growing influence at Davos aligns with its evolution as a leading global economy. As one of the fastest-growing economies, India is central to discussions about global economic trends, climate change, and digital transformation. Over the years, India’s participation at Davos has transitioned from passive observer to active participant and global influencer.

WEF 2025: India’s Prominent Role at Davos

India’s strong participation at the WEF 2025 underscored its growing influence on the global stage. Indian leaders such as Chirag Paswan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and key delegations from states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh leveraged the summit to showcase the country’s economic potential and secure transformative investment commitments.

Chirag Paswan: Building Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems

Chirag Paswan, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, presented India’s vision for addressing global food security under the broader framework of collaboration. His RISE Framework (Resilient Food Systems, Inclusive Livelihoods, Sustainable Production and Consumption, and Equitable Access to Nutrition) became a central point of discussion, with leaders praising its comprehensive approach to ensuring equitable food access while safeguarding resources for future generations.

Paswan highlighted India’s 38.4% global share in millet production, its leadership in integrating traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern innovation, and its significant strides in nutraceuticals. His call for global collaboration in food processing resonated strongly with the WEF 2025 theme, as food security is a critical element of equitable progress in the intelligent age.

Ashwini Vaishnaw: India as a Technology and Manufacturing Hub

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s participation underscored India’s leadership in AI, digital transformation, and semiconductor manufacturing. Speaking at sessions on innovation and emerging technologies, Vaishnaw showcased India’s efforts to skill its workforce in AI, with plans to train 1 million individuals in AI applications. He also highlighted India’s potential to become the “use case capital of the world”, focusing on creating real-world AI applications that solve global challenges.

Vaishnaw emphasized India’s export-led growth strategy, which has shifted from import substitution to a “Make in India, Make for the World” model. He highlighted India’s achievements in mobile phone manufacturing, with 99% of devices now produced domestically, and the country’s ascent in the semiconductor industry, where India is poised to become a global leader.

India’s alignment with the WEF 2025 theme was clear in its push to balance technological advancements with inclusivity, showcasing itself as a reliable and ethical partner in the era of intelligent collaboration.

State-Wise Contributions and Outcomes

Indian states have increasingly taken the lead at Davos, positioning themselves as key drivers of economic growth. This year, several Indian states made noteworthy contributions and signed significant investment deals at the summit:

Maharashtra: Data Capital of India and Innovation City

Maharashtra, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, stole the spotlight by signing 61 MoUs worth ₹15.70 lakh crore, making it one of the biggest success stories of the summit. Around 98% of these investments came from foreign direct investment (FDI), reflecting Maharashtra’s position as a global business destination. Major deals included a ₹1,03,200 crore infrastructure investment by Brookfield and ₹71,795 crore by Amazon Web Services for a data center.

Fadnavis announced plans for an “Innovation City” in Navi Mumbai, powered by artificial intelligence, which will not only boost the state’s digital economy but also position Maharashtra as the data capital of India. This ambitious project aims to create an AI-driven ecosystem that will lead to advancements in technology and job creation across sectors.

Telangana: Championing the ‘China Plus One’ Strategy

Telangana emerged as one of India’s most dynamic participants at Davos. Under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s leadership, the state delegation secured MoUs worth ₹1.78 lakh crore, with a focus on green energy, IT, aerospace, and industrial parks. The most significant deals included ₹60,000 crore from Amazon Web Services and ₹45,500 crore from Sun Petrochemicals.

Telangana leveraged the summit to promote its “China Plus One” strategy, offering itself as a manufacturing and investment alternative to companies seeking to diversify away from China. Hyderabad’s strengths in IT and pharmaceuticals were further bolstered by plans to expand into cutting-edge sectors like semiconductors, rocket manufacturing, and solar cells. Revanth’s vision of transforming Telangana into a $1 trillion SGDP economy by 2050 was well received by global investors.

Kerala: Leading the Green Energy Revolution

Kerala’s participation in Davos was centered around its groundbreaking Green Hydrogen Valley initiative. The state has been recognized as a global leader in decarbonization, with its hydrogen-powered ecosystem driving sustainable development. Spearheaded by ANERT, Kerala’s project aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission to produce five million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

The state is actively integrating hydrogen into public transport, freight, and waterways, with investments worth $30 million already initiated. Kerala’s ambition to become a national model for hydrogen-powered sustainability was celebrated at the WEF, showcasing India’s commitment to tackling climate change.

Uttar Pradesh: Building a $1 Trillion Economy

Uttar Pradesh’s delegation, led by Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, focused on positioning the state as a $1 trillion economy within the next five years. The state emphasized its investor-friendly policies and ongoing infrastructure development, including expressways, airports, and urban centers.
Building on the success of its participation at WEF 2024, Uttar Pradesh showcased its renewable energy projects and engaged with industry leaders from global corporations like Nestle, Heineken, and PepsiCo. Last year, the state signed an MoU worth ₹4,000 crore with Hero Future Energies for clean technology projects, signaling its commitment to sustainability.

Tamil Nadu: Converting Investments into Reality

Tamil Nadu focused on its high conversion rate of MoUs into actual investments, showcasing its reputation as a destination for reliable and consistent economic growth. With ₹10 lakh crore in investments over the last three years, Tamil Nadu emphasized job creation and its manufacturing prowess. Unlike other states, Tamil Nadu views Davos as a networking platform to generate long-term opportunities rather than immediate MoU signings.

Andhra Pradesh: Networking for a Green Economy

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu used Davos to network with global corporate leaders and emphasize Andhra Pradesh’s opportunities in green energy and hydrogen development. With ambitious projects like a ₹96,000 crore petrochemical complex and a ₹1.35 lakh crore steel plant, Andhra Pradesh is making strides to become a green energy hub. Naidu’s long-term vision of attracting ₹10 lakh crore in green investments reflects his dedication to making Andhra Pradesh a model for sustainable development.

Key Themes at WEF 2025: India’s Priorities

The 2025 WEF Summit was defined by emerging global priorities such as sustainability, digital transformation, and resilience in the face of climate and economic challenges. India’s contributions revolved around these themes, with key takeaways highlighting the country’s strengths and potential.

1. Green Energy and Sustainability

With India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, green energy was a focal point at Davos. States like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh led discussions on green hydrogen, while Telangana and Uttar Pradesh emphasized renewable energy and clean technology projects. India’s ability to attract massive investments in sustainability aligns with its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

2. Digital Transformation

India’s leadership in IT and digital innovation was showcased prominently. Maharashtra’s plans for an AI-driven “Innovation City” and Telangana’s advancements in data centers and semiconductors underscore India’s push to dominate the global digital economy. Companies like Amazon Web Services and Infosys highlighted their expanding presence in India, solidifying the country’s role as a digital superpower.

3. Infrastructure Development

Infrastructure remains a cornerstone of India’s growth story. Uttar Pradesh’s investments in expressways and airports, along with Maharashtra’s major infrastructure MoUs, reflect India’s focus on connectivity and industrial growth.

4. Global Positioning: India as ‘China Plus One’

Telangana’s promotion of itself as a “China Plus One” destination reflects India’s increasing attractiveness as a manufacturing and supply chain hub. The country’s ability to integrate global supply chains while leveraging its skilled workforce and policy reforms was a recurring theme at Davos.

Davos 2025: A Milestone for India

The WEF 2025 Summit was a landmark event for India, as it cemented its position as a global leader in sustainability, innovation, and economic growth. The combined efforts of Indian states, businesses, and policymakers resulted in significant investment commitments, particularly in emerging sectors like green hydrogen, AI, and data centers. States like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Kerala led the way in attracting foreign direct investments, while Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh used the platform to promote their development agendas.

India’s engagement at Davos this year demonstrated its readiness to embrace the challenges of the 21st century, including climate change, technological disruption, and global supply chain realignment. By prioritizing sustainability, digital transformation, and infrastructure, India has not only strengthened its global image but also laid the foundation for long-term economic resilience.

Looking Ahead

As India progresses toward becoming a $10 trillion economy by 2032, its active participation in global forums like Davos will remain crucial. India @ Davos 2025 reflects a nation that is confident, innovative, and committed to creating a sustainable and inclusive future. By leveraging global partnerships and fostering innovation, India is poised to lead the way in shaping the future of the global economy.

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