Davos 2026: India rolls out 10,000 sq ft mega pavilion as states court global investors

India has made its biggest-ever presence at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos this year, with the India Pavilion built on the largest scale compared to previous editions.

Spanning nearly 10,000 square feet, the pavilion has been designed in a heritage style and features dedicated spaces for individual states within the larger India showcase, highlighting the country’s strengths across sectors ranging from manufacturing and technology to sustainability and innovation.

As many as 10 Indian states are participating in Davos this week to court global investors, taking India’s competitive federalism to the global stage at the 56th edition of the WEF annual meeting, being held from January 19 to 23 under the theme ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’.

States take centre stage at Davos

The Indian states present at Davos this year include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. However, states such as Tamil Nadu have opted out of the 2026 summit.

Maharashtra is being represented by a state-level delegation led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Karnataka, meanwhile, is being represented by Minister for Large and Medium Industries MB Patil, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have stayed back due to budget preparations and official commitments.

The delegation from Andhra Pradesh is being led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and includes HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Industries Minister T G Bharath Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is leading a high-level delegation, presenting the state’s long-term growth vision and its investor-friendly ecosystem

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is likely to present the state as a new investment destination with numerous opportunities in various sectors. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is going to the WEF annual meeting for the first time with a plan to enhance the state’s global presence and to bring in international investment.

Jharkhand is also making its presence felt at Davos for the first time with, Hemant Soren, the Chief Minister, leading an eleven-member delegation that coincides with the state’s 25 years of being formed.

At the same time, Kerala is set to position itself as a worldwide centre for eco-friendly and advanced technology industries, headed by a powerful ministerial delegation headed by P Rajeev, Minister of Industries. The six-member delegation also comprises Chief Secretary A Jayathilak and Additional Chief Secretary APM Mohammed Haneesh.

The state has been given an exclusive space within the India Pavilion to showcase its transition towards a knowledge-based, Industry 4.0-compliant ecosystem. “At Davos, we will highlight how Kerala is fusing technology, talent and collaborative ecosystems while balancing development with ecological sensitivity,” Rajeev said.

Centre, CII coordinate India’s presence

At the national level, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is participating to promote India as an investment destination, while the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is acting as the nodal agency coordinating activities at the India Pavilion.

Uttar Pradesh is likely to be represented by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna and Industries Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, along with officials from Invest UP. A high-level delegation from Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) is also engaging with global investors and policymakers.

Davos 2026: global leaders converge

The WEF said nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries are expected to attend Davos 2026 amid heightened geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and rapid technological change. The list of attendees includes US President Donald Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, along with several heads of state, global policymakers and top CEOs from the technology and finance sectors.