World Economic Forum to kick-off in Mumbai from Saturday

The World Economic Forum (WEF) today said its annual India Economic Summit will be held here over the week-end, the first time that the IES meet is travelling out of New Delhi in its two-decade history.

"Coming to Mumbai this year is symbolic of bringing the discussion from the centre to the states," WEF Senior Director and Head of Asia Sushant Rao said, adding that apart from economic leaders, the civil society leaders, youth and social entrepreneurs will also speak at the summit.

Maharashtra, which is the size of Mexico, has been chosen by WEF as the India summit venue for being an economically important state, the organisers said.

Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan said it is an opportunity for the state, which has been at the forefront of India's economic development, to showcase itself as a favourable investment destination.

The central theme for the summit, being organised in partnership with industry lobby Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), will be 'Linking Leadership with Livelihood'.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Union Ministers Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal and Jairam Ramesh, Deputy Chairman of the plan panel Montek Singh Ahluwalia and chief ministers of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh will be among those addressing the sessions, an official statement said.

Over 800 delegates from 40 countries are expected to attend the event and those who would be addressing the gathering include who's who of India Inc -- Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Chief Executive of largest software exporter TCS N Chandrasekaran and the chairman of country's largest bank SBI Pratip Chaudhuri.