India’s Growth Story Takes Centre Stage as Andhra Pradesh Showcases Its Advantage at Davos.
20 January 2026
Davos
“At a time when global leaders converge in Davos to assess the direction of the world economy, India stands out as a country shaping the next phase of global growth and knowledge leadership. Supported by a unique demographic dividend and decisive leadership, India is at a defining moment, poised to play a central role in meeting the world’s future needs for talent, innovation and knowledge”, stated Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
He was speaking at the session India at the Centre: The Geography of Growth-The Andhra Pradesh Advantage organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) coinciding with the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos today.
“Every visit to Davos brings key takeaways that I try to implement. From the internet revolution of the 1990s to India’s reforms beginning in 1991, our thinking and aspirations opened up, how the world is moving, how India is moving and how we catch up. Today, the world will depend on India for knowledge. India is business-friendly, built on trust, something CII has partnered in for over three decades,” he said.
“From Hyderabad to Amaravati, land pooling by farmers, infrastructure development and land monetisation are shaping one of India’s most beautiful cities because people believe. With a unique demographic dividend and strong leadership, India stands at a defining moment,” the Chief Minister added.
Ambassador Richard Verma, Chief Administrative Officer, Mastercard stated that the US-India partnership is shaping the defining relationship of the 21st century made possible by the transformation underway in India's States. India has emerged as the largest hub outside the US for Mastercard built on growing trust in the digital economy and digital assets.
Mr Sanjiv Bajaj, Past President, CII and Chairman and Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv Limited said that “India continues to grow steadily, driven by visible transformation in physical infrastructure and a digital infrastructure that is among the most unique in the world. This momentum is supported by competitiveness and improved ease of doing business, spanning hard infrastructure, manufacturing and critical soft infrastructure. Traditional sectors such as marine and food processing, alongside MSMEs and new-age industries, are being actively strengthened. Port-led infrastructure development is a key focus and Andhra Pradesh is playing a central role in driving this transformation.”
“Andhra Pradesh is witnessing even stronger growth than India, backed by 50 Fortune 500 companies, a strong coastline with multimodal connectivity, and momentum to emerge as a global supply chain hub”, stated Mr Rajiv Memani, President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Regional Managing Partner of EY Africa India region, Chair – EY Growth Markets Council.
“With 256 large projects approved, Development Policy 4.0, focus on jobs, decarbonisation, renewables and GCCs, Andhra Pradesh has all the ingredients to become India’s economic hub and lead the country’s growth story,” Mr Memani added.
“India’s growth story is a collective endeavour where states serve as critical pillars. Andhra Pradesh under the visionary leadership of Shri N Chandrababu Naidu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, has emerged as a strong example of a high performance, innovation driven economy that reflects India’s evolving geography of growth,” affirmed Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
“As global investors seek scale, trust and stability, Andhra Pradesh stands out for its strong infrastructure base, forward looking governance, and commitment to sustainable development. CII is privileged to work closely with the Hon’ble Chief Minister through his ideas and leadership leveraging his Public-Private-People Partnership Governance model,” Mr Banerjee added.
The session was also addressed by Ms Marilyn Blattner-Hoyle, Head Public Sector Solutions, Swiss Re and Mr Philipp Assmus, CEO & Founder, FyrstGen.