This time the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to be held in Davos, Switzerland is not just going to be an international conference for India, but a big platform to showcase its global strength. In this five-day long summit, leaders who decide the direction of world politics, economy and diplomacy will gather and India’s presence will be stronger and more influential this time than ever before.
This time India’s role in Davos will not be limited to just inviting investments, but a big game of diplomacy will also be seen regarding tariffs i.e. taxes on import-export.
Trump will reach Davos with the largest delegation till date
On one hand, US President Donald Trump is reaching Davos with his largest delegation till date, while on the other hand, India is also going to present its claim on the global power table with Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of many states and top industrialists of the country. This is a clear indication that the world’s major powers have now started considering India not just as an emerging economy but as an important pillar of global balance.
India will arrive with Union Ministers, CMs of many states and industrialists
From the Indian side, along with Union Ministers of important departments like Railways, IT, Energy, Industry and Civil Aviation, Chief Ministers of states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Jharkhand will also interact directly with investors in Davos.
Along with this, the presence of corporate giants like Reliance, Tata, Mahindra, Infosys, Wipro, Bharti, JSW, Bajaj, Paytm, Zerodha shows that India is in a position to give direction to the global economy not only at the government level but also on the strength of the private sector.
What is the biggest question for India in Davos?
The biggest question regarding India in Davos will be, ‘Can India become the world’s new manufacturing and investment hub as an alternative to China in the coming years?’ Amidst geopolitical tensions, changes in supply chains and Western countries’ strategy to reduce dependence on China, India is presenting itself as a reliable, democratic and stable partner.
At the same time, the discussion will also be on whether India is soon moving towards becoming the third largest economy in the world. India will keep the investments being made in infrastructure, digital economy, startup ecosystem, semiconductor, green energy and manufacturing as evidence of its growth story. Whereas from a diplomatic perspective, India’s strong presence in Davos gives a clear message that India is no longer just a regional power but is ready to play an active role in global policy-making.
On which issue will India give more emphasis in the WEF forum?
India is emerging as a balancing power with its strategic autonomy, economic strength and political stability among the US, Europe, China and top leaders of global institutions. This time the Davos platform will play a role beyond attracting investment for India. Here India will try to show that in the global system of the 21st century, it is moving towards becoming not just a partner but also a country that gives direction. However, the question now is whether the world is really ready to see India as an alternative to China and the economic pivot of the coming decade? The debates in Davos will seek the answer to this question.
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