Page 3 - World Economic Forum

Central, state ministers unveil India Pavilion at WEF's Davos summit

Day marks talks on challenges that AI poses to societies, economies

Ceat Chennai unit enters elite league of WEF's Lighthouse Network

At the Chennai unit, the deployment of advanced analytics and real-time monitoring systems has resulted in a reduction of cycle times by 18% and operational costs by 31%

EU wants to upgrade strategic partnership with India, says President Ursula

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said the first trip of her new Commission will be to India as she wants to upgrade the strategic partnership with "the largest country and democracy" of the world. In a special address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here, she said the European Commission wants to see local industries flourish in its partner countries because that is also in its own interest. "And, we have partners across the world, from Africa to Indo-Pacific," she said. "The first trip of my new commission will be to India. Together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we want to upgrade the strategic partnership with the largest country and democracy in the world," she declared. While European Parliament re-elected her for a second term in July last year, the new commission officially began work recently. Her present term will continue till 2029. She further said, "I believe we also strive for mutual benefits with our conversations with Chin

Tax super-rich, fund just and green future: Greenpeace's poster at WEF

In a rare occurrence, rights group Greenpeace on Tuesday put up a poster inside the main venue of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here, calling for taxing the super-rich. "Tax the super rich. Fund a just & green future," read the yellow poster with black letters held by two volunteers in green T-shirts on a balcony right outside the Congress hall minutes before the opening plenary was to begin there. Greenpeace International, whose executive director Mads Christensen is participating in the meeting, is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent creative confrontation to expose environmental problems. Earlier on Monday, Greenpeace activists from various countries blocked the arrivals of the participants of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland at the Lago heliport. In a statement, Greenpeace said, "As the planet burns and the rich grow richer, the link between inequality and environmental destruction becomes undeniable. "The richest 1 per cent ..

Healthier women, stronger economies: WEF's case for investing in women

Making a strong case for investing in women's health worldwide, the World Economic Forum on Tuesday said its new research shows that closing the women's health gap could unlock USD 400 billion in global GDP annually by 2040. The Forum also launched here at its annual meeting a new Women's Health Impact Tracking platform, a publicly accessible tool designed to monitor and bridge the health gaps faced by millions of women worldwide. The new report, Blueprint to Close the Women's Health Gap: How to Improve Lives and Economies for All, was published in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI). It highlighted that women live 25 per cent more of their lives in poor health compared to men and showed how targeted action around nine key health conditions could reduce the global disease burden by 27 million disability-adjusted life years and add the equivalent of 2.5 healthy days per woman per year. The nine conditions are divided into lifespan conditions, related to a total ..

Maharashtra working with 360-degree approach on investments: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra has adopted a 360-degree approach in attracting investments with several focus sectors ranging from manufacturing to technology to data centres to healthcare to clean energy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here. Fadnavis, who arrived in this ski resort town to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, told PTI that he has several meetings lined up with potential for fruitful results in terms of investments in his state. "I started my Davos visit with a meeting with World Economic Forum Founder and Chairman Klaus Schwab where we discussed collaboration between WEF and Maharashtra," he said. "We also discussed clean energy, electric vehicles and several other new-age industries. I'm holding a number of bilateral meetings here, including for potential investments in Maharashtra," he said. Fadnavis also inaugurated the Maharashtra pavilion which will host several potential and existing investors in the state. He was also present for the inauguration of one of

India at forefront of age defined by technological evolution: WEF report

In an era defined by technological evolution, India stands at the forefront as one of the world's fastest-growing economies and a global hub for startups and digital innovation, the World Economic Forum said on Monday. The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) India, liaison office of World Economic Forum (WEF) in India, launches its 6-year impact journey report on the inaugural day of the WEF Annual meeting 2025 here. The WEF said its partnership with India dates back more than 40 years. Over the past four decades, this relationship has developed into a strong, multifaceted and meaningful collaboration with the national government, several state governments, business leaders across key industries and other important stakeholders, including civil society and leading experts, resulting in several impactful initiatives that have advanced shared priorities. India's advocacy for and pursuit of developmental templates where technology serves as a bridge rather than a barrie

India drops to 3rd in trust index; low-income less trusting of institutions

India has slipped one place to third slot when it comes to people's trust in the government, businesses, media and NGOs, while the low-income population is far less trusting than their richer counterparts, a study showed here on Monday. The annual Edelman Trust Barometer, now in its 25th year, released before the start of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, also showed that India ranks low at 13th place when it comes to trust of people in other countries, in companies with Indian headquarters. Canada topped this list of foreign-headquartered companies, followed by Japan, Germany, the UK, France and the US, while those ranked higher than India also included Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, China and Brazil. The overall list for trust of the general population in the government, businesses, media and NGOs was again topped by China, while Indonesia replaced India for the second spot by virtue of an increased score despite the Indian score remaining unchanged. The survey of 28

India pitches for investments at Davos amid uneven domestic economic growth

Behind the rhetoric of big themes, Davos is undoubtedly known for the opportunities it offers for behind-the-scenes deal-making

States join hands with Centre to present India's united colours at WEF meet

Putting aside their party affiliations, the Centre and states have come together in this skiing resort town, at least in terms of the space for their respective pavilions. Two India pavilions, just a few blocks apart on the same side of the famous Promenade street, together house all lounges and meeting rooms for the union ministers, central government departments and state governments. One has got pavilions of Kerala, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from the delegation from these states, the second one has pavilions of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Both pavilions will also host five union ministers at different times, while the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Invest India are also present -- the two agencies handling most of the country's presence here. Industry body CII is also present with a large delegation of CEOs and other business leaders. Among states, Kerala is ruled by the Left Front, Telangana by Congress, Uttar Prad

Maharashtra to UP, states draw battle lines to woo investors in Davos

Not only that, CMs like Devendra Fadnavis, Chandrababu Naidu, and Revanth Reddy are also expected to hard-sell their states at the grand venue

PM Modi's policies, Indian states hog limelight ahead of WEF meet in Davos

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said there was a lot of interest globally in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic policies, which would be the focus of discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Vaishnaw, who is leading the Indian delegation at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting beginning Monday, said there was a lot of interest in India's growth story among the international community, particularly about the digital transformation and the new digital architecture. "In the World Economic Forum in Davos, there is lot of interest in understanding our thought process, the prime minister's economic policy, about the digital transformation, about the way India has created new digital architecture under the Digital India programme and also the way technology has been democratised. There is a lot of interest on this," he said. There will be detailed discussions about inclusive growth, the investment in social, physical, digital infrastructure and on ...

CM Naidu to promote 'Brand AP' during 4-day Davos trip for WEF meeting

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will on Sunday leave for the World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland's Davos where he will promote "Brand AP" and showcase the state to top industrialists and business leaders for investment. Naidu intends to highlight a slew of newly-created employment-focused industrial policies and network with top executives to secure investment. "The chief minister will use Davos as a platform to explain the availability of human resources, infrastructure, government subsidies, stable leadership and speed of doing business to attract national and international companies," according to a statement on Saturday. Naidu will leave Amaravati for Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday, followed by a flight to Zurich at 1:30 am on Monday. In Zurich, Naidu will meet India's ambassador to Switzerland. He will later meet industrialists at a local hotel and follow it up with a meeting with Telugu industrialists. At the "Meet and Greet Telugu Diaspora" event, Naidu w

Maharashtra targets MOUs worth Rs 7 trn at WEF, CM to lead delegation

The Maharashtra government has set a target of signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 7 lakh crore at the upcoming annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos in Switzerland, a senior official from the state Industries Department said on Thursday. In 2023, Maharashtra signed MoUs worth Rs 1.37 lakh crore, while in 2024, MoUs worth Rs 3.53 lakh crore were signed, he pointed out. "Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are the two states in the country with the highest conversion rate of MoUs. This time we have raised the bar and plan to achieve an 80 to 85 per cent conversion rate," he said. The WEF meeting will be held from January 20 to January 24, and the Maharashtra delegation will be led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Maharashtra government has also set a deadline of March 31 to execute the maximum number of MoUs, he said. The industries department reviewed the outcomes of the last two WEF meetings and the challenges faced while converting MoUs into ...

Global economy to weaken in 2025, India's strong growth continues: WEF

A majority of chief economists worldwide expect weaker global economic conditions in 2025 but India is likely to maintain a strong growth despite signs of some momentum being lost, a new report said on Thursday. In its latest Chief Economists Outlook, the World Economic Forum said the global economy is set to face significant challenges in 2025, with 56 per cent of chief economists surveyed expecting conditions to weaken. Only 17 per cent foresee an improvement, pointing to heightened uncertainty in key regions and the need for measured policy responses worldwide, it found. The US economy is expected to deliver robust growth in 2025, and South Asia, particularly India, is also expected to maintain strong growth. The outlook for Europe remains gloomy, with 74 per cent of respondents predicting weak or very weak growth this year. The outlook for China also remains weak, and growth is projected to slow gradually in the years ahead, the WEF said in the report prepared on the basis of

Armed conflict top immediate risk, misinformation in short term: WEF

State-based armed conflict has emerged as the top immediate risk for 2025, reflecting heightened geopolitical tensions and fragmentation globally, the World Economic Forum said on Wednesday. Misinformation and disinformation lead short-term risks, while environmental risks dominate the 10-year horizon, led by extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, the WEF said in its latest Global Risks Report. On the global political outlook over the next decade, the report said most global leaders expect a multipolar or fragmented order, where the Western-led global order is expected to continue its decline and alternative power centres are likely to strengthen in the form of China, India and the Gulf states. The report, now in its 20th edition, leverages insights from the Global Risks Perception Survey, which draws on the views of over 900 global leaders across business, government, academia and civil society. The report identifies and analyses the most pressing risks

Trump, Zelenskyy, Scholz among 60 top leaders to address WEF Davos meet

US President-elect Donald Trump, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be among 60 top political leaders from across the world, including Germany, Switzerland, South Africa and Israel, who will address the World Economic Forum meeting in Swiss ski resort town Davos next week. Announcing the detailed schedule, Geneva-based WEF on Tuesday said the meeting would see participation by nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including 350 governmental leaders. Indian participation would include five union ministers -- Ashwini Vaishnaw, CR Patil, K Ram Mohan Naidu, Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary -- and three chief ministers -- Dharmendra Pradhan, N Chandrababu Naidu and Revant Reddy, along with other ministers from other states and over 100 CEOs. With the global economy undergoing a paradigm shift, the five-day meeting beginning January 20 will explore how to re-launch growth, harness new technologies and strengthen social and economic ...

Farm workers, drivers largest growing jobs; cashiers most declining: Study

Farm workers and drivers will figure among the fastest growing jobs over the next five years, while roles of cashiers and ticket clerks will see the largest decline, a new study showed on Wednesday. In its Future of Jobs Report 2025, the World Economic Forum (WEF) also said that 170 million new jobs will be created by 2030, while 92 million are projected to be displaced, resulting in 78 million net new jobs. The report, released days before the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos from January 20-25, said that job disruption will equate to 22 per cent of jobs by 2030. Technological advancements, demographic shifts, geoeconomic tensions, and economic pressures are the key drivers of these changes, reshaping industries and professions worldwide. Drawing on data from over 1,000 companies, the study found that the skills gap continues to be the most significant barrier to business transformation today. Nearly 40 per cent of skills required on the job are set to change, and 63 per cent of employ

International cooperation flatlined, some hope in climate finance: WEF

Amid heightened geopolitical tensions and instability, international cooperation has 'flatlined', but positive momentum in climate finance, trade and innovation offers some hope, a Global Cooperation Barometer showed on Tuesday. Releasing the annual barometer ahead of its Annual Meeting in the Swiss ski resort town Davos, the World Economic Forum said the world leaders need to embrace 'disordered' cooperation and dynamic solutions-driven decision-making to deliver tangible results and build trust. It also said that artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are reshaping the global landscape and driving upheaval, making concerted cooperation critical to harness benefits and minimise risks. The WEF's Global Cooperation Barometer offers a critical assessment of the state of global cooperation, showing a world grappling with heightened competition and conflict while also identifying various areas where leaders can drive progress through innovative collaboration. Released

Delegation of state ministers, CMs, CEOs to attend WEF Summit in Davos

At least three chief ministers -- Devendra Fadnavis, Chandrababu Naidu and Revant Reddy -- will join over 100 CEOs and other leaders from India in Davos next month for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025. Naidu will also be joined by his son and senior Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh, while Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Tamil Nadu Minister T R B Rajaa and Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Khanna will also be there for the five-day annual congregation in the Swiss ski resort town starting on January 20, 2025. Some senior Union ministers are also expected to attend the meeting, but their names are still being finalised. Those who attended the last WEF annual meeting from the central government included Ashwini Vaishnaw, Smriti Irani and Hardeep Singh Puri. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also attended the meeting in the past, but there is no official word so far about his participation in the high-profile summit, for which the main theme this time would b