India to showcase growth story at WEF annual meet

Looking to showcase flagship programmes like Make In India, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman today joined over 100 corporate honchos from India at the WEF meet here even as China positioned itself as the new champion of globalisation with call for further opening up of economies worldwide.

The annual gathering of the rich and powerful, happening against the backdrop of global uncertainties, would be holding discussions on global economy and the need for a 'responsive and responsible leadership'.

Apart from the ministers, who started interactions soon after reaching this ski resort town, senior government officials including DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant are attending the annual meet. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is also in attendance.

Various flagship programmes of the government, including Make In India and Digital India, are expected to be showcased by the ministers and officials as the country seeks to attract more investments. They would look to present India's economic strength and overall growth potential.

With China being the flavour of the day as Chinese President Xi Jinping made a strong case for globalisation, several Indian business leaders said India appears to be risking losing the position of globalisation champion of the region.

However, they hoped that India will be back in focus with the ministers and several corporate leaders, including Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Tata Sons Chairman designate N Chandrasekaran and SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, scheduled to participate in some key sessions at the WEF meeting.

Roads Minister Gadkari and Minister of State for Commerce Minister Sitharaman are also scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings in the coming days, including till late tonight.

Ambani and IT major Infosys' CEO Vishal Sikka are scheduled to participate in a session on fourth industrial revolution.