All roads lead to Davos. Multiple CMs compete for investments, opportunities

As the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting gets underway in the Swiss resort town of Davos, all roads political, economic and diplomatic appear to be converging on the five-day global summit, with Indian states mounting one of their strongest collective investment pitches in recent years.

Leading the Indian push are chief ministers from both Telugu states Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy alongside Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis , Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav , Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren , Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma , and senior ministers representing Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and other states.

For Andhra Pradesh, Naidu’s return to Davos carries symbolic and strategic significance. His earlier engagements at the forum between 2015 and 2018 had resulted in landmark investments such as Kia Motors’ manufacturing plant in Anantapur and Isuzu’s facility in Sri City , often cited among India’s most successful Davos-to-factory conversions. The state is now pitching execution-ready projects in ports, electronics, green hydrogen and logistics.

Telangana, which leveraged Davos in previous years to position Hyderabad as a global technology and life-sciences hub, is seeking to deepen investments in artificial intelligence, data centres, pharmaceuticals and Global Capability Centres, building on earlier expansions by global majors in the IT and biotech sectors.

Maharashtra, traditionally one of India’s strongest performers at the forum, is highlighting its manufacturing depth, EV ecosystem, defence production and green energy plans. During the 2025 summit, the state announced investment commitments of over ₹15 lakh crore, with several projects now under various stages of execution.

Karnataka, represented by Industries Minister M.B. Patil, is adopting an “execution-first” strategy this year, pitching projects with land availability and approvals already in place, while Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Assam are showcasing opportunities across mining, renewable energy, food processing and infrastructure.

The Indian presence at Davos extends beyond states. Senior Union ministers including Ashwini Vaishnaw , Pralhad Joshi and K. Rammohan Naidu are attending, while more than 100 Indian CEOs are participating alongside industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry.

On the global stage, the summit is drawing heavyweight participation, led by US President Donald Trump , who is expected to dominate discussions amid global geopolitical churn. European leaders, heads of multilateral institutions, and top corporate executives including technology, energy and finance majors are also in attendance.

The agenda at Davos this year revolves around artificial intelligence, global economic fragmentation, climate finance, energy transition and supply-chain resilience areas where India is positioning itself as both a growth engine and a stable investment destination.

With multiple chief ministers competing for investor attention under one roof, Davos 2026 has emerged as a rare convergence point where global capital meets India’s federal ambition, and where boardroom conversations over five days could shape investment decisions for years to come.