India's Strategic Presence at Davos 2026: A Solid Bet in Uncertain Times
In a world grappling with geopolitical strain, trade fragmentation, and the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence, India made a high-impact start at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos. The country's delegation, led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), presented a compelling narrative: India as a dependable partner for economic progress when predictability and trust are in short supply globally.
A Sombre Global Mood Meets India's Stabilizing Force
The mood at Davos this year was overshadowed by:
- Ongoing geopolitical tensions
- Fragmentation in global trade patterns
- Anxiety about AI's impact on jobs and productivity
- Concerns about a fraying rules-based international order
Amid this uncertainty, India emerged as a stabilizing force, with global interest heightening in its economic trajectory, innovation ecosystem, and governance capabilities. The CII's strategically-coordinated campaign aligned perfectly with the gathering's theme, 'A Spirit of Dialogue,' emphasizing that in a world of shrinking trust and rising unilateralism, dialogue anchored in credibility and delivery matters more than ever.
Key Developments and International Responses
Several significant announcements and discussions highlighted India's growing importance on the global stage:
- EU-India Trade Agreement: EU President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to visit India soon after Davos, revealing that India and the EU are on the cusp of signing a historic trade agreement that would create a market for 2 billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP.
- Middle Powers' Role: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's statement that middle powers like Canada are not powerless in the evolving global order and can help shape a new international framework rooted in shared values received positive responses.
- Supply Chain Concerns: Discussions centered on global trade patterns revealing high dependence on limited regions for essential commodities, with disruptions along key shipping corridors potentially leading to scarcity and inflation.
India's Pragmatic Approach to Technology and Sustainability
India made a strong showing in technology discussions, with thought-provoking sessions led by Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Pralhad Joshi, and Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu covering:
- AI Readiness: India belongs firmly to the group of AI-ready nations, showing steady progress across all five layers of AI architecture—applications, models, chips, infrastructure, and energy.
- Pragmatic AI Strategy: Unlike approaches obsessed with ever-larger models, India's strategy prioritizes real-world deployment and return on investment, resonating with economies struggling to translate AI's promise into broad-based productivity gains.
- Sustainability Leadership: Sustainability has moved from peripheral concern to central driver of competitiveness, with India's experience in balancing growth, inclusion, and climate responsibility offering valuable lessons for other nations.
Substantive Representation and State-Level Engagement
This year marked one of CII's most substantive delegations to Davos, featuring:
- Over 100 participants spanning government, industry, startups, social enterprises, and media
- More than 200 attendees overall
- Three Union ministers leading the Centre's delegation
- Six chief ministers from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Jharkhand participating to woo investors
The Three Pillars of Reliable India
Underlying all engagements was a consistent theme of Reliable India, built on three pillars:
- Trust: Rooted in stable democratic institutions and predictable policymaking
- Scale: Enabled by a vast market and deep talent pool
- Innovation: Driven by digital public infrastructure and a flourishing technology ecosystem
While India is projected to become the world's third-largest national economy in a few years, sustained real GDP growth of 6–8% and nominal growth of 10–13%, supported by moderate inflation, positions it as one of the few major economies offering both stability and momentum.
From Emerging Economy to Essential Partner
At Davos 2026, where nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries gathered, India is no longer defined merely as an 'emerging economy.' It is becoming essential to the global economic order—poised to meet the world's future needs of talent, innovation, and knowledge. In a fractured world searching for anchors, India offers something increasingly rare: credibility backed by capability, ambition tempered by pragmatism, and growth aligned with inclusion.
In uncertain times, the world doesn't just need dialogue—it needs dependable partners. At Davos 2026, India made a compelling case that it is ready to be one of them, standing at the intersection of trust, scale, and innovation as a solid bet amid global uncertainty.
