Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will travel to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026. His departure comes just one day after the counting of votes for 29 municipal corporations concluded.
Delegation Details and Schedule
The eight-member delegation plans to stay in Davos from January 17 to January 24. Key officials joining Fadnavis include Uday Samant, the Minister for Industries and Marathi Language. Ashwini Bhide, Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, will also attend.
Other Delegation Members
The team features several senior bureaucrats and industry experts:
- Dr P Anbalagan, Principal Secretary for Industries
- Dr Shrikar Pardesi, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister
- P Velarasu, Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation
- Deependra Singh Kushwah, Development Commissioner for Industries
- Kaustubh Dhavse, Chief Advisor on Investment to the Chief Minister
Purpose of the Visit
The World Economic Forum organizes this annual meeting every year. It has been running for five decades. The event offers platforms for trust-based engagement and public dialogue. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, under the Government of India, participates to promote investment in India.
The Confederation of Indian Industry serves as the nodal agency for coordinating activities at the India Pavilion. CII invited the Government of Maharashtra to confirm a slot in the Indian Pavilion. Maharashtra accepted the invitation and booked the slot between December 19 and December 23, 2026.
Financial Arrangements
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation will cover all travel and accommodation expenses for the delegation. This move ensures state resources support the investment promotion efforts.
Previous Achievements
In 2025, Chief Minister Fadnavis announced investment commitments totaling Rs 15.7 lakh crore during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. These commitments resulted from 54 Memorandums of Understanding signed with both domestic and foreign investors. The state government hopes to replicate or exceed this success in the upcoming forum.
The timing of this trip is significant. It follows closely on the heels of local body poll results, indicating the government's continued focus on economic development amidst political activities.
