India in Davos Switzerland 2026 with Confidence, Capital and a Clear Growth Narrative

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, January 19–23, 2026

As the snow-covered Swiss resort of Davos hosts the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), India has emerged as one of the most confident and consequential voices in a world grappling with geopolitical uncertainty, slowing growth, and trade tensions. 

From political leadership to corporate India, the message from Davos 2026 is clear, India believes in its growth story and global investors are increasingly buying into it.

Strong Political and Corporate Presence

India’s presence at Davos this year is both broad and deep. At least four Union Ministers from Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi, and K. Rammohan Naidu are attending, alongside six Chief Ministers and more than 100 top Indian CEOs. 

The delegation reflects India’s ambition to position itself as a stable, scalable, and future ready economy at a time when many regions are facing volatility.

The timing is significant. Davos 2026 is unfolding against a backdrop of renewed global trade frictions. Even amid this uncertainty, India has stood out for its optimism and deal-making momentum.

Indian CEOs Buck the Global Gloom

A key highlight from Davos has been the release of the annual PwC Global CEO Survey. While just over half of global CEOs expect economic growth in the year ahead, Indian CEOs are markedly more optimistic.

Key Points

• 77% of Indian CEOs expect stronger domestic economic growth.

• 57% express high confidence in near-term revenue growth nearly double the level of their global peers.

• India has risen to second place globally, after the U.S., as a preferred investment destination for global CEOs, up from fifth place last year.

In a world where 46% of global CEOs are not planning cross border investments, India’s ascent on the global investment map is striking. Among CEOs planning overseas investments, 13% identified India as a preferred destination, on par with Germany and the UK.

Big-Ticket Investments and State-Level Momentum

Indian states have used Davos as a powerful platform to attract capital. On the very first day of the WEF meeting, the Maharashtra government signed 19 MoUs involving investment commitments worth ₹14.5 lakh crore, with the potential to generate over 15 lakh jobs. The state also announced a major agreement with Lodha Developers, taking total commitments for a green data centre park to ₹1.3 lakh crore, set to be the largest of its kind in India.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence that the state would surpass last year’s record ₹16 lakh crore worth of Davos linked MoUs, citing strong interest across manufacturing, infrastructure, and data centres.

Southern states were equally active. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu struck an upbeat note, pitching Amaravati as a future “world’s best city” and inviting global partners to participate in its development. The UAE agreed to establish a food processing cluster in Andhra Pradesh, with discussions also covering logistics parks, renewable energy, and port-led development.

Telangana, meanwhile, showcased its long-term “Telangana Rising 2047” vision, building on the ₹1.78 lakh crore in investments it secured at Davos last year.

Global Corporates Double Down on India

Global corporations reiterated India’s strategic importance. Cisco described India as one of its most critical markets, highlighting continued investments in manufacturing, AI infrastructure, and talent. Hitachi lauded India’s faster implementation capabilities, particularly in rail and energy, noting that improved execution has led to larger and quicker deployment of Japanese investments.

Technology led themes AI, green energy, data centres, and digital infrastructure ran strongly through India related discussions. From Swiggy’s focus on AI-driven efficiency and massive untapped domestic demand, to conversations about next-generation data centres, including futuristic concepts like space-based facilities, India was positioned as both a market of scale and a laboratory for innovation.

India’s Davos Moment

Davos 2026 has reinforced a critical shift that India is no longer merely a “potential story.” 

It is increasingly seen as a dependable growth engine in a fragmented global economy. Strong political leadership, demographic advantages, improving ease and speed of doing business, and rising CEO confidence have combined to give India a distinct edge.

As global leaders debate trade, technology, and trust, India’s message from Davos is grounded yet ambitious: growth is possible, partnerships are welcome, and the country is ready to lead in the next phase of the global economic cycle.