A high-level delegation from the Gujarat government, led by Deputy Chief Minister and State Industries Minister Harsh Sanghavi, is participating in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23. The delegation's participation aims to showcase Gujarat's development agenda on a global platform and promote its vision of "Developed Gujarat @2047". Officials have described the visit as crucial to strengthening international economic engagement and attracting foreign investment to the state.
During the five-day meeting, Sanghavi is scheduled to hold 58 high-level, one-on-one meetings with global industry leaders, investors, and policymakers. These interactions will focus on attracting investments in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, textiles, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, food processing, chemicals, shipping and logistics, and aerospace. The primary objective of these meetings is to strengthen Gujarat's industrial ecosystem and generate new employment opportunities.
The delegation is also slated to meet with top executives from multinational corporations, including AP Moller Maersk, Engie, EDF, Johnson Controls, Sumitomo Group, Linde, SEALSQ, and Tillman Global. Discussions are expected to focus on technology adoption, innovation, and long-term industrial collaboration.
In addition to investment outreach, Sanghavi will represent Gujarat in several policy discussions at the forum. He is expected to be a keynote speaker at sessions covering topics such as "India in the New Geo-Economic Order" and "Power of Sports: From Spectacle to Heritage," as well as energy transition under the "Call to Action" initiative.
Gujarat's participation in the WEF Summit reflects its future-ready approach towards international collaboration and accelerated economic transformation. The state government is keen to highlight its development model, promote collaborations through GIFT City, and secure strategic international partnerships and financial flows.
India is preparing a dedicated India Pavilion at Davos, which will serve as a hub for key sector discussions and investor engagement meetings. Several other Indian states will also be represented at Davos, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Jharkhand. Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi, and K Rammohan Naidu are also expected to attend, along with over 100 top CEOs from the country.
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 will host nearly 3,000 global leaders from approximately 130 countries, including more than 60 heads of state and government. Discussions will focus on navigating dialogue in a fragmented world. Top political leaders expected to participate include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.
