World Economic Forum 2026 LIVE: EU nears historic trade deal with India, says president Ursula von der Leyen

Indian leaders hold joint press conference

• January 20, 2026 23:57

  EU on cusp of historic trade deal with India: Ursula von der Leyen

  The European Union is on the cusp of signing a historic trade agreement with India that is being called ‘the mother of all deals’, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Tuesday (January 20, 2026), asserting it will create a market for 2 billion people or about one-fourth of the global GDP.

  In a special address in Davos at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, she said the real would crucially provide a first-mover advantage for Europe with one of the world’s fastest-growing and most dynamic continents.

  Read the story here

  EU on cusp of historic trade deal with India: Ursula von der Leyen

  The EU is nearing a landmark trade deal with India, enhancing ties and creating a market for 2 billion people.

• January 20, 2026 23:44

  Unilever to explore possibility of establishing GCC in Hyderabad

  FMCG major Unilever is exploring the possibility of setting up a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad, the Telangana Government said on Tuesday.

  Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who is leading the State Government’s delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting at Davos, met Willem Uijen, Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer of global consumer goods giant Unilever.

  “The Chief Minister highlighted Hyderabad’s rapid transformation as a global hub for GCCs. Uijen said the company would be happy to explore the setting up of a GCC in Hyderabad,” an official release said.

  – PTI

• January 20, 2026 23:43

  DuneVista Capital secures capital for $1-billion global fund, commits $100 million for India

  Investment firm DuneVista Capital has secured capital for a $1 billion global fund and allocated $100 million for the Indian market, the company said on Tuesday.

  The firm has already deployed $60 million across India and the Middle East from the fund, with India identified as a core market for the fund’s current investment cycle.

  “DuneVista Capital, an Indian-led global asset management group, has secured capital for a $1 billion global fund. As part of its India-focused approach, DuneVista Capital has committed an additional $100 million to Indian and India-linked investment platforms,” the company said in a statement.

  The deployment has taken place ahead of the fund’s formal launch at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos on January 21, marking early investment activity from the secured capital pool, the statement said.

  – PTI

• January 20, 2026 23:42

  Lithuania President says joint security deal could end Greenland row

  An agreement on sharing ‍responsibility for the security of the Arctic ‌and the North Atlantic could offer a way out of the stand-off between the United States and Europe over Greenland, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said ⁠on Tuesday.

  In an interview on the sidelines of the World ⁠Economic Forum’s annual meeting, Mr. Nauseda told Reuters that the Greenland row was overshadowing ‌the war in ‌Ukraine and playing into Russia’s hands and ‍urged Washington to de-escalate the dispute.

  “The ‍best outcome would be just to agree on a common responsibility for the security of the Arctic region and the North Atlantic region. Is ⁠it possible to achieve? We should do our best to go ⁠this way, because this is the best way,” he said.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 23:40

  Green energy, investment opportunities to boost goals of developed India, prosperous Jharkhand: Hemant Soren

  Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday addressed the inaugural ceremony of the India Pavilion at the WEF annual meeting in Davos, and said the green energy and new investment opportunities will give momentum to ongoing efforts to meet the goals of developed India by 2047 and prosperous Jharkhand by 2050.

  He said Jharkhand is a natural resource-rich State and is rapidly advancing in several sectors, including green energy.

  “Today, I had the privilege of participating in the inauguration ceremony of the INDIA PAVILION at #WEF Davos alongside the Central Government and other esteemed dignitaries from various states of the country. Jharkhand is participating in this program organised on the global stage for the first time, which is a matter of pride for all of us,” Mr. Soren posted on X.

  – PTI

• January 20, 2026 23:39

  UAE government, Telangana agree to collaborate for Bharat Future City’s development as top global city

  Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism for the United Arab Emirates, met Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy-led ‘Telangana Rising’ delegation at the World Economic Forum 2026 on Tuesday.

  The delegation discussed potential areas of mutual cooperation in the state’s large infrastructure projects, especially the Bharat Future City.

  According to the release, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy outlined the Telangana Rising 2047 vision and the future-defining roadmap to transform the State into a $3 trillion economy by 2047.

  During the meeting, he also highlighted the significant scope for development in the Bharat Future City project, which is considered India’s first Net-Zero Greenfield Smart City. Spread over 30,000 acres, the city is envisioned as a multi-sectoral, sustainable urban-industrial hub with dedicated spaces for AI, education, health, industries, residential and entertainment zones.

  The Chief Minister explained that global companies like Marubeni and Semcorp are already on board with the project. “Very recently, we signed an MOU with Reliance Group’s Vantarato establish a new zoo in Future City.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 23:36

  Carney tells Davos Canada ‘strongly opposes’ tariffs over Greenland

  Prime Minister Mark Carney ‌said on Tuesday that Canada strongly opposed any U.S. tariffs over Donald Trump’s aim ⁠to take over Greenland.

  “Canada strongly ⁠opposes tariffs over Greenland and calls for ‌focused ‌talks to achieve ‍our shared objectives ‍of security and prosperity in the Arctic,” Mr. Carney said during ⁠an appearance at the World Economic ⁠Forum.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 23:35

  World trust India under PM Modi, he’s our best USP: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi at WEF

  “Global companies are putting their trust in India due to their trust in the country’s stable Government, stable policy, and its talent pool, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is our best USP on the world stage,” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday.

  Speaking to PTI during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy said that during his interactions in Davos, he has seen that people have trust in the leadership of our country, and they know theirs would be a good investment.

  On India’s target to become the third largest economy in the world, Mr. Joshi said India has moved on to become the fourth largest economy from being a fragile economy some 10-11 years ago.

  “While it took more than 50 years to move from a GDP size of $1 trillion to $2 trillion, it moved to $3 trillion and $4 trillion in ten years or so,” he said.

  “Now we are on our way to become the world’s third largest economy, and a key driver has been Prime Minister Modi’s mantra of reform, perform and transform,” he said.

  – PTI

• January 20, 2026 23:10

  Tariffs starting to bump up product prices, Amazon CEO tells CNBC

  Amazon.com is starting to see an uptick in product prices on its e-commerce platform as sellers ‍respond to cost pressures stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the tech giant’s CEO, Andy Jassy, told CNBC ‌on Tuesday.

  The company had pulled forward its inventory shipments early last year and urged third-party sellers to bring in more stock ahead of time to circumvent tariff-driven surges in shipping costs, but “that supply has run out in the fall,” Mr. Jassy said in the interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

  “(We’re starting) to see some of the tariffs creep into ⁠some prices. Some sellers are deciding that they’re passing on those higher costs to consumers, some are deciding that they’ll absorb it to drive demand, and some are ⁠doing something in between. So you’re starting to See More of that impact,” Mr. Jassy said.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 23:08

  Saudi-based industrial conglomerate Expertise to partner with Telangana’s YISU

  Telangana’s forward-looking approach to transforming higher education through skill-based, industry-aligned learning offered by Young India Skills University (YISU) is receiving tremendous response at the World Economic Forum 2026, especially from skill-intensive industries.

  According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Mohammed Ashif, President & CEO of Saudi-based industrial conglomerate Expertise, expressed a strong interest in partnering with YISU during a meeting with the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy-led ‘Telangana Rising’ delegation.

  The company, with a major presence in the Middle East, primarily provides plant maintenance services in skilled, talent-intensive sectors, including petrochemical, oil & gas, fertiliser, steel, cement, water treatment, and power generation.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 23:07

  U.K.’s finance minister Reeves calls for Greenland de-escalation

  Britain’s ‍Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said on Tuesday that it was important to de-escalate ‌the situation over Greenland, the island which U.S. President Donald Trump has said his country should own.

  “We absolutely want to de-escalate,” Ms. Reeves told a Bloomberg event at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “The future of Greenland is for the ⁠people of Greenland.”

  “I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest to escalate tensions or to allow rhetoric to ⁠be a substitute for hard work and diplomacy,” Ms. Reeves added.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 22:53

  Philips keen to partner with Telangana on AI, to explore setting up knowledge hub

  Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy-led ‘Telangana Rising’ delegation on Tuesday met the global leadership of renowned health tech company Royal Philips at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos.

  According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s office, during the meeting, Jan Willem-Scheijgrond, Vice-President and Global Head, Government and Public Affairs, Royal Philips, expressed interest in partnering with the State in the AI space.

  The delegation explained to Ms. Willem-Scheijgrond about the newly launched, dedicated Telangana life sciences policy. With an ambitious target of building a $250 billion life sciences economy by 2030, the ‘Telangana Next-Gen Life Sciences Policy 2026-2030’ is extending benefits to medical electronics, among various other allied areas.

  The Chief Minister stated that Telangana is building a world-class, sustainable industrial cluster designed to transform pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 19:57

  Macron says he does not plan to speak with Trump at Davos

  French ‌President Emmanuel Macron does not plan to speak ⁠with his U.S. counterpart Donald ⁠Trump at the ‌World Economic ‌Forum in ‍Davos, Macron ‍told reporters on Tuesday.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 19:54

  Time for flattering is over: Anders Fogh Rasmussen

  Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister who led NATO from 2009 to 2014, urged the alliance’s current head, Mark Rutte, and other European leaders to start taking a tougher line with the U.S. President after he threatened tariffs.

  “We have to change strategy and conclude that the only thing that Mr. Trump respects is force, strength and unity,” Mr. Rasmussen said.

  “That’s exactly what Europe should demonstrate. The time for flattering is over. Enough is enough”, he said.

  Mr. Rasmussen’s comments came as European leaders, including Mr. Rutte, brace for meetings with Mr. Trump in Davos to try to talk him down.

  Mr. Rasmussen insisted the current crisis swirling around NATO could still be “fixed”, and the alliance could emerge stronger in the Arctic region.

  But, he said, Mr. Trump’s actions had already created a “mental break” between Washington and its long-time European allies, which benefited Russia and China.

  Mr. Rasmussen said he was not criticising leaders such as current NATO boss ‌Mr. Rutte, who has lavished praise on Mr. Trump.

  He said the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, the so-called “bazooka” that ‍confers broad powers to retaliate against economic pressure, should be on the table after Mr. Trump threatened tariffs on eight European nations until the U.S. ‍is allowed to buy Greenland.

  – AFP, Reuters

• January 20, 2026 19:48

  Met Chinese counterpart at Davos: U.S. ‍Treasury Secretary Scott ​Bessent

  U.S. ‍Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he had ‌a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Davos late on Monday and discussed soybean purchases.

  “I had a meeting ⁠with my Chinese counterpart here in Davos last night, ⁠Vice-Premier He Lifeng. He told me ‌that just this week, ‌they have completed their ‍soybean purchases, and we’re looking forward ‍to next year’s 25 million tons,” Mr. Bessent said during an appearance at the World Economic ⁠Forum.

  Mr. Bessent also said rare earths were flowing from ⁠China as expected.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 19:47

  INOXGFL to invest ₹50,000 crore in next 2 years in energy transition across multiple Indian States

  The Group Executive Director of INOXGFL, Devansh Jain, on Tuesday committed an investment of nearly ₹50,000 crores in the next two years in energy transition across multiple Indian States.

  While speaking with ANI on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr. Jain said, “We are one of the largest energy transition players in India today and have invested close to $2 billion in the past year and are committing an investment of nearly ₹50,000 crores in the next 2 years across multiple states in terms of energy transition.”

  “We are looking at very large capital expenditures in multiple states, including Madhya Pradesh, U.P. and Karnataka. A lot of our energy projects are being established in these states,” he added.

  “We have just signed an MoU with Uttar Pradesh, where we are looking at investing about ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 crore across solar projects. We will be announcing an MoU with Karnataka… We are looking at investing in Gujarat for investing about 1500 Mega Watts in the next 2 years, amounting to nearly ₹12,000 crore… We are talking to other states as well…” he said.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 19:45

  AM Group to build USD 25 billion GW scale AI compute hub in Uttar Pradesh

  AM Group, the leading energy transition platform backed by the founders of Greenko Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh Government at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos to build a massive Artificial Intelligence (AI) compute hub in Greater Noida.

  The project involves a total investment of approximately $25 billion. This hub is designed to handle global AI workloads and will be one of the largest investments in India’s digital infrastructure to date.

  The project will be built in stages, with the first part expected to be ready by 2028. By 2030, the facility is planned to reach its full capacity of 1 gigawatt. The hub will house around 500,000 advanced high-performance chipsets. It is intended to support global tech companies, research labs, and India’s own national AI goals by providing the massive computing power needed for modern technology.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 19:44

  Andhra Pradesh, RMZ Group announce $10 billion infrastructure partnership at Davos

  The Government of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday announced a strategic investment partnership with RMZ Group at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026, involving the development of large-scale digital, mixed-use and industrial infrastructure across the State. Under the proposed partnership, RMZ Group plans to develop a Global Capability Centre (GCC) Park at Kapuluppada Phase-1 IT Park in Visakhapatnam, positioning the city as a key digital and GCC hub.

  The project envisages up to 10 million square feet of built-up space across about 50 acres, aimed at attracting global enterprises and strengthening Visakhapatnam’s expanding GCC ecosystem.

  The group also proposes to set up a hyperscale data centre cluster in the Visakhapatnam region with a targeted capacity of up to 1 gigawatt. The facility, to be developed in phases over 500–700 acres, will support advanced digital and artificial intelligence workloads, with an emphasis on sustainability, green power integration and future-ready infrastructure.

  – PTI

• January 20, 2026 19:42

  France prefers respect over bullies: Emmanuel Macron

  French ‍President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said ‌the European Union should not bend to “the law of the strongest” and that it was staggering that the bloc ⁠was having to contemplate using its “anti-coercion instrument” against ⁠the United States.

  “We do believe that we need ‌more growth, ‌we need more stability in ‍this world, but we do ‍prefer respect to bullies,” Mr. Macron told the World Economic Forum in Davos, speaking in English.

  “We ⁠do prefer science to (conspiracies), and we do ⁠prefer rule of law to brutality,” he said.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 19:41

  ‘World order’ at stake from Trump’s Greenland threat: ex-NATO chief

  NATO is facing the biggest crisis in its history over Donald Trump’s Greenland threats, and the time for “flattering” the U.S. leader is over, former alliance chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen told AFP on Tuesday.

  “It’s not only a crisis for NATO, it’s a crisis for the transatlantic community at large,” Mr. Rasmussen said in an interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos. “It is the future of NATO and the future of the world order that are at stake.”

  – AFP

• January 20, 2026 19:39

  EU ‘should not hesitate’ to use anti-coercion mechanism in face of Greenland tariff threats: Emmanuel Macron

  French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said the European Union “should not hesitate” to use the trade bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats over Greenland.

  Mr. Macron, speaking at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, pushed back against aggressive U.S. trade pressures and “an endless accumulation of new tariffs”.

  “The anti-coercion mechanism is a powerful instrument, and we should not hesitate to deploy it in today’s tough environment,” he said.

  – AP

• January 20, 2026 19:38

  Europe shouldn’t retaliate over Greenland: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

  U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on ‌Tuesday warned European countries not to retaliate over Donald Trump’s aim to take over Greenland ⁠and urged them to “have an open mind.”

  “I ⁠tell everyone, sit back. Take a deep ‌breath. Do ‌not retaliate. … The president ‍will be here tomorrow, ‍and he will get his message across,” Mr. Bessent said during an appearance ⁠at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 19:36

  Macron tells Davos of a ‘shift towards a world without rules’

  “The world is experiencing a ‌shift away from rules and international law,” French President Emmanuel Macron told the World ⁠Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday.

  “It’s … a ⁠shift towards a world without rules, ‌where international law ‌is trampled underfoot and ‍where the only ‍law that seems to matter is that of the strongest,” Mr. Macron ⁠said, adding that what he called “imperial ambitions” were resurfacing.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 19:34

  Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren heads to Davos to participate in inter-ministerial panel

  Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday informed that he will be participating in the inter-ministerial panel titled “Capital in Action: Scaling Energy Systems Through Policy, Finance & Regional Leadership” in Switzerland’s Davos.

  Taking to his ‘X’, he said the panel will include high-profile participants, such as a former Slovakian Finance Minister and global business leaders, and will focus on policy, finance, and regional leadership to develop resilient energy systems.

  “En route to the inter-ministerial panel Capital in Action: Scaling Energy Systems Through Policy, Finance & Regional Leadership, discussing with the Chief Secretary on positioning Jharkhand as a global player in energy security,” CM Soren said.

  “Jharkhand remains committed to contributing meaningfully to the global energy transition,” he added.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 19:30

  Madhya Pradesh delegation discusses AI for agriculture, green data centres with Google

  In a significant move to bolster its digital infrastructure and innovation ecosystem, the Government of Madhya Pradesh met Sanjay Gupta, President of Asia Pacific at Google, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 on Tuesday.

  The high-level meeting focused on accelerating growth within the IT/ITeS sector and advancing major data centre initiatives across the State.

  During the discussions, the State delegation highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s emerging role as a technology hub, specifically focusing on “existing and proposed data centre projects in the state”. To support these large-scale investments, the government outlined its “plans to create a policy to ensure adequate power supply for such projects leveraging green energy”.

  This strategic focus on sustainability aims to position the state as a preferred destination for global tech giants seeking carbon-neutral operations.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 19:29

  Not unreasonable to have discussion on practices of credit card companies: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

  U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ‍said on Tuesday that it was not unreasonable to have a discussion on ‌the practices of credit card companies; “a number of things can be considered”.

  “I think that there are a lot of things that we can look at with the credit cards in terms of their practices, in terms of their ⁠behaviours, and we’ll see where that goes,” Mr. Bessent said in an interview with CNBC from the World ⁠Economic Forum in Davos.

  President Donald Trump last week called for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates, and ‌Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, a longtime ‌consumer financial protection advocate, said the Republican President reached out to ‍discuss the idea.

  “I would say that in terms of direction, the president and the administration agree with many of Senator Warren’s policies that the poorest members of society shouldn’t pay the most,” Mr. Bessent said. “But she wants to control credit. She wants to put in more regulation,” he ⁠said, which led to the failure of small and community banks.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 19:25

  MMRDA signs 10 MoUs worth $96 billion on Day 1 of WEF Davos

  The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) achieved a historic milestone at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Summit 2026 in Davos, securing investment commitments worth $96 billion (₹8.73 lakh crore) on the very first day through the signing of 10 major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

  The landmark agreements are expected to generate approximately 9.6 lakh direct and indirect jobs, positioning the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) as the talent capital of India and Asia.

  The MoUs were signed in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, representing the authority.

  Speaking on the exchange of these MoUs at Davos 2026, CM Fadnavis said, “The historic $96 billion in investments secured on the very first day of WEF 2026 is a reflection of the global investors’ unwavering faith in Maharashtra’s potential.”

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 18:50

  Zelenskyy says to travel to Davos if documents ready for signing with U.S.

  President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on ‍Tuesday that he would travel to Davos ‌only if documents on security guarantees with the United States and a prosperity plan were ready to be signed there.

  Mr. Zelenskyy, who had been expected to ⁠attend the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, said he ⁠had stayed in Kyiv to help deal with the aftermath of a ‌major Russian airstrike overnight ‌that knocked out heating supplies to ‍about half of the residential apartment buildings in ‍the city.

  “Certainly, I chose Ukraine in this case, not the economic forum, but everything can change at any moment. Because it ⁠is very important for Ukrainians to end this war,” Mr. Zelenskyy told reporters ⁠answering questions in a WhatsApp media chat.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 18:48

  EU chief vows ‘massive’ Greenland investments

  EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the bloc plans “massive” investments in Greenland, as it seeks to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to take the autonomous Danish territory in the name of securing the Arctic.

  “We are working on a massive European investment surge in Greenland,” Ms. von der Leyen told the World Economic Forum in Davos, without giving specifics.

  -AFP

• January 20, 2026 18:44

  India aims to have up to 350 airports by 2047: Civil Aviation Minister

  Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, while speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, highlighted that India aims to build nearly 350 airports by 2047.

  “We have a plan to build 50 airports in the next 5 years, and by Viksit Bharat 2047, when we want to see a developed India, we want to have up to 350 airports,” Mr. Naidu said on Tuesday.

  “We are the third largest domestic aviation market in the world. It was not a natural growth, but rather due to policy-making, a strong infusion of capital into the civil aviation sector, and the whole idea of democratising civil aviation in the country and expanding regional connectivity…” he said.

  “Every sector in India has seen a tremendous growth in the last 10-11 years, and we are projected to see this kind of growth for the next 25-30 years. From 74 airports in 2014, we have grown to 164 today… We have a plan to build 50 airports in the next 5 years, and by 2047, when we aim to see a developed India, we want to have up to 350 airports. We have almost 1700 aircraft orders, and no other country has this kind of order… Every year, in civil aviation itself, we are growing at a growth rate of over 10-12%…” he added.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 18:28

  GIFT City delegation strengthens global ties at WEF 2026 with high-profile meetings

  The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) delegation made a significant impact on the opening day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland.

  In a series of high-level strategic interactions, the delegation engaged with senior leadership from a diverse array of global giants, including Euroclear, Egon Zehnder, Lulu Financial Holdings, Marsh McLennan, and HCL-Software.

  These meetings mark a pivotal step in GIFT City’s mission to solidify its position as a premier global financial and technology hub.

  – ANI

• January 20, 2026 18:22

  Davos world cannot revert to ‘law of the jungle’: China Vice-Premier He Lifeng

  In a special address here at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng said, “China will open its door wider to the world.” He said that the country plans to expand its market, particularly in the services sector.

  He called for increased cooperation and dialogue in the global economy.

  “While economic globalisation is not perfect, countries cannot completely reject it and retreat to self-isolation,” he said.

  He also detailed economic progress in China, noting that the country has put domestic demand at the top of its economic agenda in 2026 in an effort to boost consumption while maintaining its production prowess.

  He also said that China never deliberately pursued a ‌trade surplus, and is willing to be the world’s market as well as ⁠the world’s factory, Vice-Premier Lifeng ⁠told the World Economic Forum ‌on Tuesday.

  He said that China ‌is willing to “more ‍vigorously” expand imports.

  He also warned on Tuesday that the world must not revert to the “law of the jungle”.

  “A select few countries should not have privileges based on self-interest, and the world cannot revert to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak,” He said in a speech, which came as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes his increasingly assertive America First agenda, and demands that NATO ally Denmark cede Greenland to him.

  “All countries have the right to protect their legitimate interests,” He added.

  – PTI, Reuters, AFP

• January 20, 2026 18:16

  PM Shehbaz to lead high-level delegation to World Economic Forum

  Pakistan announced on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead a high-level delegation to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

  The Prime Minister would be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other officials, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.

  “The Prime Minister’s program includes multiple substantive engagements, including participation in the WEF’s Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL) session on Restoring a Spirit of Dialogue in a Divided World,” it said.

  The Prime Minister will also host/chair a Pakistan-specific “High-level Business Roundtable” with different corporate leaders, it said.

  On the sidelines, Prime Minister Shehbaz is expected to interact with several world leaders, including business executives.

  – PTI

• January 20, 2026 17:12

  EU Commission working on package to support Arctic security: Ursula von der Leyen

  European Commission President Ursula von ‍der Leyen says the bloc’s executive arm is working on a package ‌to support Arctic security and warned that tariffs proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump over Greenland are a mistake.

  “Arctic security can only be achieved together, and this is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies,” says Ms. von der Leyen in Davos.

  “The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July, and in politics as in business – ⁠a deal is a deal,” she said.

  “Plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed ‌to keeping out of the strategic landscape, ‌so our response will be unflinching, united and proportional,” she says.

  – Reuters

• January 20, 2026 16:26

  AI benefits must be distributed evenly to avoid it becoming a bubble: Nadella

  Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) said the goal of artificial intelligence should be to improve everyone’s lives, from education outcomes to public sector efficiency.

  Speaking at a session here during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Nadella said it will be a “tell-tale” sign of a bubble if all the AI talk focused only on the supply side or the technology companies.

  He said the role of AI needs to be examined across all aspects of life, such as how it is helping pharma companies bring critical drugs faster to the market or accelerate trials.

  He called for AI-driven economic growth rather than just increasing spending.

  He spoke about how AI and other advanced technologies are increasing productivity and changing the way we work.

  “We as a global community have to get to a point where we are using AI to do something useful that changes the outcomes of people and communities and countries and industries,” Mr. Nadella said. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 16:01

  Switzerland committed to rules-based global order, free trade: President Parmelin

  Switzerland on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) said it supports a rules-based international order, international law, human rights, and free trade and these values have always defined the country.

  In the opening plenary address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here, Swiss President Guy Parmelin said Switzerland wishes to further diversify its international relations, particularly in the trade and scientific fields.

  “Even in the current climate of protectionism, we believe in the success of free trade and want to expand our network of agreements in this area,” he said.

  To achieve this, we must be able to conduct negotiations on equal footing, negotiations that yield positive results for the benefit of all parties, he underlined.

  “Such mutually advantageous agreements don’t just appear out of thin air, but we have the capacity to build them step by step. Personal contacts and a willingness to engage in dialogue are essential for this. We possess these qualities,” he said.

  The President said the WEF has always contributed to this dialogue and thanked the Forum for offering the country, once again this year in Switzerland, this extraordinary international platform for exchange. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 15:58

  EU nears historic trade deal with India, says EU president Ursula von der Leyen

  The European Union ‍is on the verge of concluding a free ‌trade agreement with India, although work remains to get it over the line, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a ⁠speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday (January 20, 2026).

  “There is ⁠still work to do. But we are on the ‌cusp of a historic ‌trade agreement. Some call it the ‍mother of all deals. One that would ‍create a market of 2 billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP,” she said in a ⁠section of her speech on EU efforts to diversify its trade. — Reuters

• January 20, 2026 15:50

  India a sleeping giant, can become world’s top economy if it wakes up: Naidu

  Senior Union ministers, along with Chief Ministers and senior leaders from as many as 10 states, came together, irrespective of their political affiliations, to laud India’s economic growth and investment prospects.

  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated that India is already the world’s fourth-largest economy and will become the third-largest in another 2-3 years, and then the number two by 2048.

  “We are fighting with giants, but India is a sleeping giant, and if we wake up, we will be the number 1 by 2047,” he said. — PTI

  WEF 2026: India a sleeping giant, can become world’s top economy if it wakes up, says Chandrababu Naidu

• January 20, 2026 15:30

  Russian envoy to meet U.S. officials in Davos: Kremlin

  Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev plans to meet members of the U.S. delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Kremlin said on Tuesday (January 20), adding he would discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

  “I can confirm that he does indeed have such plans with some representatives of the American delegation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, without specifying who he would meet.

  “Kirill Dmitriev will pass on information to that side and back again concerning the peace process in Ukraine,” he added. — AFP

• January 20, 2026 14:50

  Indian CEOs more confident than global peers on GDP, revenue growth: PwC survey

  Amidst a subdued global outlook, Indian CEOs are a lot more optimistic than their global peers on growth of their economy as well as their company revenues, a new survey showed in Davos.

  Also, India has moved to the second place after the U.S. among global CEOs as a potential destination, up from fifth last year, as per the annual PwC CEOs survey released during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

  It said just over half of global CEOs are expecting growth, but India stands out as an exception.

  The survey found that striking 77% of India CEOs anticipate stronger domestic growth, and 57 per cent express high confidence in near-term revenue growth, nearly double the number of their global peers.

  In a world defined by uncertainty, India’s ascent on the global investment map also stood out.

  PwC said India is now among the top investment destinations. While 46% of global CEOs are not planning any investments, of those planning to invest beyond borders, 35% would like to invest in the U.S., while 13% each said they would like to invest in India, Germany, and the U.K.

  Last year, India was in the fifth spot along with France on the list of territories global CEOs would like to invest in. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 14:09

  Egypt’s President Sisi to meet Trump on the sidelines of Davos

  ‍Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will ‌meet U.S President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic ⁠Forum in Davos, Egypt’s presidency said ⁠on Tuesday. 

  This will be the first ‌meeting between ‌the two leaders ‍since the U.S announced it ‍was launching the second phase of its plan to end ⁠the war in Gaza. — Reuters

• January 20, 2026 13:39

  We’ll make Amaravati world’s best city, all are welcome to partner, says Chandrababu Naidu

  Bullish on the growth trajectory of India and Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) said he would make Amaravati the best and the most beautiful city in the world and everyone is welcome to be a partner in this endeavour.

  Speaking at a breakfast session organised by his government along with industry chamber CII, he said every country is facing aging problem but India is continuing to reap the demographic benefits and that will continue for next 25-30 years.

  Another big advantage India offers is a strong leadership in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

  “There are in-built strengths in India. It used to be a sleeping giant earlier and it used to be difficult to convince anyone of its potential. But now we don’t even need to tell anyone about India’s growth,” he said.

  “We are all in inspiring times. India is moving fast and Andhra is growing even faster now…Earlier, we used to talk about ease of doing business and now we are talking about speed of doing business,” he said.

  “We want to make everyone here a partner in growth of Andhra Pradesh,” Mr. Naidu said, as he recalled that it was his visit to Davos in 90s that inspired him to think how the world is moving and how Andhra should be moving forward.

  The world is going to depend on India for talent, he said.

  “I made Hyderabad the best livable city, now I want to make Amaravati the world’s best city and I invite partners for that,” he said.

  India also offers a deadly combination of ample sunlight, wind and storage space for leading the world in green energy, the chief minister said, as he listed names of various sectors available for business in Andhra Pradesh and in India. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 12:46

  UAE agrees to establish food cluster in Andhra Pradesh

  UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri on Tuesday (January 20) agreed during a meeting with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to set up a food cluster in Andhra Pradesh.

  The meeting took place during the annual meet of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

  The UAE minister also assured to enable 40 companies to set up shop in the southern State.

  “Al Marri agreed to set up a food cluster in Andhra Pradesh’s food processing sector,” an official press release said, detailing the developments at WEF.

  Further, Mr. Naidu and Mr. Al Marri deliberated on strengthening the financial partnership between the state and the UAE.

  Mr. Naidu showcased investment opportunities in food security, logistics, port-related industries, renewable power, urban development, tourism and infrastructure.

  Both the leaders discussed the proposal of UAE company Sharaaf Group establishing a multi-modal logistics park in Andhra Pradesh, said the press release. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 12:41

  Hitachi India bets big on rail, energy, payments sectors; lauds faster implementations

  Lauding the government for speeding up the implementation process for large projects, Hitachi India Chairman Bharat Kaushal said Japanese investment commitments are being utilised much faster now.

  This is also leading to deal sizes getting much bigger now between India and Japan, while deals are no longer limited to the two governments, with a lot of private sector deals happening across equity, debt and partnerships, Kaushal told PTI here during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

  Crediting the Indian government, he said implementation is one area that has really transformed in the past decade, whether it is the modernisation and expansion of Indian railways or metro urban mobility solutions.

  Similarly, the energy sector has undergone a major transformation and is now increasingly horizontal, touching many, if not all, aspects of the economy, he said.

  On focus areas for Hitachi in India, he said energy and rail are definitely big social and political priorities in India, and the economic might of these two cannot be matched easily by any other sector.

  “We are seeing about USD 45-50 billion being spent in the rail sector, including urban mobility, and close to USE 40 billion being spent in energy,” he noted.

  On India-Japan ties, he said, one of the things that has been very consistent is the economic engagement of Japan and India.

  “You know, earlier our absorption capacity of a lot of Japanese funding that was coming was not getting absorbed at the same speed because there were implementation delays, and the Japanese companies’ hallmark is quality and reliability,” he said.

  “What has transformed with this is that the size of the deal, the earnestness with which you push a deal have both changed.

  “So the last time that I think it was in 2022, USD 42 billion were committed. More or less before the end of 2025, most of that money was spent already, and now commitments from the private sector are also coming,” he said. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 12:04

  Telangana CM Revanth Reddy reaches Zurich en route to Davos

  Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other members of the State government’s delegation to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting at Davos reached Zurich on Tuesday (January 20, 2026).

  The delegation was accorded a warm welcome by overseas Telangana residents at the Zurich airport.

  During the WEF event in Davos, the State government would focus on showcasing the State’s long-term growth vision, progressive policies and investor-friendly ecosystem to global leaders, CEOs and industry representatives from around the world, in the context of the launch of Telangana Rising 2047 vision document in December 2025, an official release said.

  Mr. Reddy unveiled the State government’s vision document, aimed at making the state a USD three economy by 2047 during the two-day ‘Telangana Rising Global Summit’ organised by the state government here in December last year.

  At the WEF meeting in Davos in 2025, Telangana secured investments of ₹1.78 lakh crore. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 11:40

  Lodha Developers signs pact with Maharashtra government

  Realty firm Lodha Developers Ltd has signed an initial pact with the Maharashtra government for an additional ₹1 lakh crore investment to build a data centre park.

  The company, four months ago, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) of ₹30,000 crore with the state government to develop a data centre.

  In a regulatory filing on Tuesday (January 20), the company said it has committed to another ₹1 lakh crore.

  On January 19, Abhishek Lodha, MD and CEO of Lodha Developers, signed an MoU with the government of Maharashtra in the backdrop of the World Economic Forum at Davos.

  With the additional ₹1 lakh crore, the total commitment has reached ₹1.3 lakh crore. “With the total investment of ₹1.3 lakh crore on approximately 2.5 gigawatt data centre park, it is slated to be the largest in the country,” Lodha Developers said.

  In September last year, Lodha Developers had signed an agreement for ₹30,000 crore with the Maharashtra government to develop a data centre under the government’s Green Integrated Data Centre Park policy. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 11:26

  Space next big place for data centres: Cisco

  With AI and advanced computing creating a need for huge data centres, tech giant Cisco’s senior executive Jeetu Patel has said the world is very soon going to see space data centres. 

  Mr. Patel, president and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, said while green data centres are going to be very prominent soon, the next few years would witness those centres being built in the space to tackle infrastructure, mainly power, constraints.

  When you think of data centres, all the cooling that’s required for the data centers is huge as 90 per cent of the weight in a rack tends to be the cooling infrastructure, he said.

  It’s not the computer but the cooling that actually causes a huge amount of the weight, he said.

  “When you go into space, you’ve got solar, the intensity of solar is much higher than what you have on Earth and so the cooling can tend to be at a very different level of economic proportion than what you do over here,” he said.

  “And then the energy availability is much higher too. So I think there will be space data centres that are also being built out at the same time,” he said. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 11:03

  India most important market for us, will continue to invest there: Cisco

  Tech giant Cisco sees India as a strategically very important market and will continue to invest there, its senior executive Jeetu Patel has said.

  Speaking to PTI during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the company’s President and Chief Product Officer said India accounts for the largest concentration of its people outside the U.S.

  “Going ahead, India is a very strategic region for us and we have experienced tremendous amounts of growth over there,” he said.

  “We continue to make sure that we actually are moving our manufacturing in some cases also there,” he said, while giving an example of the Chennai facility that was launched about a year ago.

  “So, I think that India is a very strategic part of the world for us and we want to continue to keep investing in India,” he said.

  Patel said there’s a very strong public private partnership culture in the country and Cisco has been very fortunate to work with the administration over there.

  “Our goal is to continue to keep serving the best technologies that America produces so that they can have the best ability for generating tokens for AI,” he said.

  Cisco works with a multitude of different industries in India and it wants us to continue to do that, he said.

  “It’s one of our most strategic regions as we move forward,” said Patel who frequently visits India. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 10:52

  Maharashtra to See More Davos pacts this year, great interest in Mumbai too: Fadnavis

  Fresh from a big victory in Mumbai municipal polls, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on January 19 said the ‘Third Mumbai’ being built would get huge investment commitments here, and the overall figure for the state will exceed last year’s record.

  Maharashtra had signed several Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) worth nearly Rs 16 lakh crore at Davos last year.

  Speaking after inaugurating the Maharashtra pavilion on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Fadnavis said Maharashtra is getting a very good response and that he feels there will be more MoUs this time, involving higher investment commitments, across diverse sectors.

  “All types of investments are coming, whether it is manufacturing, data centers, or infrastructure. And I think that we have had some discussions with people, and some discussions will also happen here, and then maybe our discussions will be finalized here, and later we will do it after going to India,” he added.

  “We are a gateway for Indian businesses to meet their foreign counterparts,” he said while also extending his best wishes for other Indian States seeking investments. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 10:39

  Chandrababu Naidu to court global investors at Davos

  Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is set to hold a series of high-level meetings with leaders of major global corporations on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) as part of Andhra Pradesh’s push to attract investments and strengthen its international brand image at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

  The Chief Minister will begin the day by addressing the CII Breakfast Session on the theme “The Andhra Pradesh Advantage.” He is expected to highlight the state’s emergence as an investor-friendly destination, focusing on faster speed of doing business, port-led development, large-scale infrastructure creation, and the availability of skilled human resources. — The Hindu Bureau

  Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu to court global investors at Davos

  Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu aims to attract global investments at Davos, showcasing the state’s advantages for business growth.

• January 20, 2026 10:24

  Potential huge in India itself, no global plans for now: Swiggy

  Anticipating sustained growth in its food delivery business, a top Swiggy executive said the company has yet to tap 85-90% of the market in India, and there are no plans for global expansion yet, given the huge potential available back home.

  Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Swiggy’s Food Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor said India still represents a fairly large opportunity for change, as there is nothing on the cards right now for global expansion.

  And opportunities are there, not just in food but also in multiple other businesses across the country, he said.

  In food, particularly, we have been guiding the markets to an 18-20% growth rate year-on-year, and I think trends are holding up to that even if you look at our last quarter numbers, he said.

  Asserting that the food penetration level in India is way below not just Western numbers but even some Southeast Asian and Asian countries, he said this creates a huge headroom.

  “I think the work cut out there is not just to grow food delivery, which roughly grows about two times the food market, but the entire food sector can grow a lot if the entire ecosystem and the government come together,” he said.

  Asked about the size of the untapped market in India, he said it’s probably about 10-12% of India that has ever used food delivery, which means 85-90% has not.

  “And then we have the emerging consumer class that will soon join the market,” he said. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 10:16

  AI democratizing intelligence in food delivery business: Swiggy executive

  As AI expands into various aspects of life, top food delivery firm Swiggy’s Food Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor has said it is providing democratized intelligence to all stakeholders, ranging from its top management to delivery partners to restaurants.

  Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Mr. Kapoor said they are using Gen AI across their businesses and that it is already quite evolved.

  “For example, somebody calls customer service, and I have the ability through Gen AI to understand the quality of that discussion, and I can do something about it immediately. That’s a power that Gen AI is unleashing,” he said.

  “Most importantly, it’s democratizing a lot of things. It is telling restaurant partners what happened yesterday, which dishes moved, which didn’t. It helps our delivery partners understand where to go to get more maximum orders, and it has something for our leadership to understand what happened to the business yesterday,” he explained.

  Along with AI, robotics plays a key role, including in warehouses, Mr. Kapoor said. — PTI

• January 20, 2026 10:03

  Opening concert marks the start of Davos 2026, Jon Batiste performs

  The 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) kick-started on a musical note on January 19. 

  The concert mirrored this year’s meeting theme, A Spirit of Dialogue, Børge Brende, president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, observed in his welcoming remarks.

  “Music knows no borders, it speaks no single language. A violin, a trumpet, a clarinet and a drum, they come together in perfect harmony, each unique, each essential, each voice making the whole more beautiful,” Mr. Brende said.

  Andre Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman at Roche Holding and Interim Co-Chair at the World Economic Forum, emphasised that the concert sets the tone for the meeting.

  He remarked, “The concert reflects the principles we seek to advance for the week: openness, collaboration, diversity and a responsibility to future generations.”

  Larry Fink, Chair and CEO of BlackRock and Interim Co-Chair at the World Economic Forum, agreed and reflected on how the many genres of music all coming together in one concert perfectly represent the goals of this year’s Annual Meeting. He had also delivered some brief welcoming remarks earlier.

  “To expose people to wider ranges of voices, to a wider range of ideas, maybe even an argument, but one that we have deeper understanding from,” Mr. Larry said.

  After these welcoming remarks, the concert commenced with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra performing alongside acclaimed violinist Renaud Capucon. On a large LED screen behind the musicians, an AI-generated visual installation responded dynamically to their sounds, the brainchild of artist and technologist Ronen Tanchum. — ANI

• January 20, 2026 09:57

  EU leaders take stage in Davos as Trump rocks global order

  European leaders take the stage on January 20 ahead of Donald Trump at the gathering of global elites in Davos, as the US president dangles tariff threats in a bid to pressure the EU over Greenland.

  Mr. Trump is set to dominate the week at the Swiss ski resort, with a U.S. delegation already on the ground to promote an American agenda that has unsettled the global order cherished by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

  European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron will address the forum on Tuesday, along with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose countries have their own disputes with Mr. Trump.

  Europe is weighing countermeasures after Mr. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on eight European countries over the Greenland standoff. — AFP

  WEF 2026: EU leaders take stage in Davos as Donald Trump rocks global order

  EU leaders confront Donald Trump’s disruptive agenda at WEF 2026 in Davos, highlighting tensions over tariffs and global order.

• January 20, 2026 08:36

  GIFT City delegation to take part in World Economic Forum in Davos

  A delegation from Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), along with officials of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), will participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23.

  GIFT City delegation to take part in World Economic Forum in Davos

  GIFT City delegation to engage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, highlighting collaboration and investment opportunities in India.

• January 20, 2026 08:35

  Telangana to showcase its growth vision and investor friendly ecosystem

  Telangana is all set to showcase its long term growth vision, investor friendly ecosystem and transformative development agenda to global leaders during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 conclave at Davos in Switzerland from January 19 to 23.

  Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who will lead a high level delegation to Davos, will host CEOs of leading global companies, industry representatives and eminent personalities from different sectors at an exclusive programme during the three-day event to promote Telangana Rising 20247 vision and roadmap charted by the Government. 

  Telangana to showcase its growth vision and investor friendly ecosystem at WEF 2026 in Davos

  Telangana aims to attract global investments at WEF 2026, showcasing its growth vision and innovative development strategies.

• January 20, 2026 08:35

  Kerala delegation at World Economic Forum

  Aiming to attract investments in high-tech and green industries, the Kerala government is sending a high-level delegation led by Industries Minister P. Rajeeve to the World Economic Forum summit in Davos from January 19 to 23.

  The delegation, which includes Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) APM Mohammed Hanish, and senior officials from the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), will seek to attract global investments and partnerships in the State’s priority sectors, such as hydrogen projects, electric vehicles, medical devices, electronics, IT, hospitality and emerging technologies.

  The State will showcase its ongoing transformation into a knowledge-based economy and industry-friendly ecosystem at its space in the India Pavilion. It has also rented an additional space outside the main venue to facilitate in-depth discussions, with the aim of securing expressions of interest (EOIs) during the Davos event itself.

  “The goal last time was to showcase our potential, but this time we intend to present an ecosystem that is highly conducive to investments. We topped the ease of doing business rankings and have emerged as a key hub for tech-intensive and collaborative green industries,” Mr. Rajeeve told The Hindu.

• January 20, 2026 08:34

  Inequality top economic concern for youth globally: WEF survey

  Growing inequality between the rich and poor is the top-most economic concern for the youth across the world, while a large number of them want to run for political office rather than just critique, a new survey showed on Monday (January 12, 2026).

  The World Economic Forum’s Youth Pulse 2026: Insights from the Next Generation for a Changing World 2026 report sought to know how the next generation is interpreting, and responding to, rapid economic, political, technological and environmental change.

  Inequality top economic concern for youth globally: WEF survey

  A WEF survey reveals global youth prioritize inequality as a top economic concern, with many aspiring for political leadership.

• January 20, 2026 08:34

  Cybersecurity, income inequality & insufficient public services the top risks in India in 2026: World Economic Forum

  Geoeconomic confrontation will be the single-biggest risk globally in 2026, overtaking State-based armed conflicts and extreme weather events, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026. In India, however, the top risk is cybersecurity, followed by income and wealth inequality. 

  Cybersecurity, income inequality & insufficient public services the top risks in India in 2026: World Economic Forum

  The World Economic Forum identifies cybersecurity and income inequality as India’s top risks for 2026, amid global geoeconomic concerns.

• January 20, 2026 08:33

  Davos fortified as it awaits global elites, from Trump to Zelenskyy

  More than 5,000 armed forces personnel, snipers at vantage points, AI-powered drones and special tools to counter spywares and espionage — security is like never before in this small Swiss town this week.

  As the global elites start descending on the snow-clad skiing resort town for the five-day extravaganza of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, which begins on Monday (January 19, 2026), it is teeming with not just black business suits but also blue, black, and yellow hues — the colours of the jackets worn by the army, police, and other security personnel.

  World Economic Forum 2026: Davos fortified as it awaits global elites, from Trump to Zelenskyy

  Davos prepares for the 2026 World Economic Forum with unprecedented security measures as global leaders gather amidst planned protests.

• January 20, 2026 08:32

  India readies power-packed presence before global elite

  India is set for a power-packed representation at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in this Alpine resort town that will see the global elite discuss “a spirit of dialogue” in a fragmented world for five days beginning on Monday (January 19, 2026).

  U.S. President Donald Trump will be the biggest star among over 3,000 global leaders from government, business, academia, multi-lateral bodies, civil society, and labour unions.

  President Trump will bring along the largest-ever U.S. delegation to Davos, including at least five secretaries. Those expected include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and also US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

  WEF 2026: India readies power-packed presence before global elite

  India prepares for a strong presence at WEF 2026 in Davos, featuring key ministers and top CEOs engaging with global leaders.

• January 20, 2026 08:27

  Guterres cancels planned trip to Davos due to bad cold: UN spokesperson

  UN chief Antonio Guterres, who is currently in Switzerland, has cancelled his planned trip to the Swiss Alps town of Davos due to a bad cold, his spokesperson said.

  “The Secretary-General is currently near Geneva, Switzerland, where he is meeting with his Special and Personal Representatives and Envoys. Following these meetings, he will return to New York and has cancelled his planned trip to Davos due to a bad cold,” Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing Monday.

  Davos, the popular Swiss ski resort that hosts the annual World Economic Forum, is about 427 km from Geneva.

  Over the weekend, Mr. Guterres was in London, where he addressed a special commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the first meeting of the General Assembly. The event, organised by the UN Association of the UK (UNA-UK), took place in Methodist Central Hall, the very place where the first meeting was held, Haq added.

  Davos is hosting global leaders and business heavyweights as the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum began January 19 and will run through January 23. — PTI