Piyush Goyal to Lead Team India at WEF in Davos from 23-25 May 2022

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, will lead the Indian delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, from May 23 to 25, 2022. The Indian delegation would include Mansukhlal Mandaviya, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Chemicals & Fertilizers, and Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Housing & Urban Affairs, as well as Chief Ministers and senior ministers from six states: Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana, as well as senior officials. 

Hari S. Bhartiya, Amit Kalyani, Rajan Bharti Mittal, Ronnie Screwvala, and Salil S. Parekh are among the senior industry leaders who will take part in the WEF discussions.

This event would help to strengthen India's position as an important and relevant stakeholder in shaping the global narrative, especially as India assumes the G-20 presidency in 2023. The WEF will also serve as a platform for India to position itself as an appealing investment destination, owing to its robust economic growth and stable macroeconomic indicators.

This year marks the World Economic Forum's 50th anniversary and 35 years of collaboration with India, providing an opportunity for India to demonstrate its unified presence, including the centre and states.

To commemorate 75 years of independence and the 'Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,' the DPIIT has taken the initiative to have a consolidated marquee India presence at the World Economic Forum in Davos from May 22-26, 2022. A State Lounge has been established in addition to the India Lounge.

Sessions at the India Lounge are being organized in accordance with the Government of India's priorities, with a focus on India's strategic advantage, existing and upcoming incentive architecture, industry investment potential, and market opportunity. The sessions' key topics will include policy and ease of doing business reforms, energy transition, digital economy, opportunities in the National Monetization Pipeline, India as an entrepreneurial destination shaping the unicorn story, growing talents in the digital space, and an emphasis on innovation and research in the healthcare ecosystem.

Piyush Goyal held a pre-departure briefing session yesterday with the entire India delegation, which included central and state government ministers and officials, as well as representatives from the Indian industry, with the goal of showcasing a consolidated India presence and adopting a common India-first strategy against the backdrop of India @75 and defining the next 25 years of the India opportunity to the world.

The entire Indian delegation enthusiastically responded to the Minister's proposal and agreed to present a united front at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos.

Piyush Goyal will also visit the UK on the 26th and 27th of May 2022 to discuss the progress made in FTA negotiations and the way forward. During the Summit Meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and the United Kingdom, the two leaders agreed to finalize the FTA between the two countries by Diwali 2022.