Gujarat eyes defence, semiconductor, green investments at WEF'26

Gujarat has sent a high-level delegation to the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, with a focus on attracting investments in key sectors such as defence manufacturing, semiconductors, renewable energy and advanced technologies.
The delegation, led by Deputy Chief Minister and Industries Minister Harsh Sanghavi, is attending the WEF summit being held from January 19 to 23. According to information from the state government, the visit aims to take Gujarat’s long-term vision of ‘Developed Gujarat @2047’ to the global stage and present a clear roadmap for industrial growth and employment generation.Addressing reporters ahead of the visit, Sanghavi said the delegation would use the global platform to showcase Gujarat’s investment potential across electronics, defence, semiconductors, renewable energy and allied sectors. He highlighted that Gujarat has emerged as a preferred investment destination in recent years under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with sustained efforts to expand industrial capacity and create jobs for the youth.
During the four-day visit, Sanghavi is scheduled to hold more than 58 high-level one-to-one meetings with global business leaders and investors. These discussions will span sectors such as advanced manufacturing, textiles, semiconductors, emerging technologies, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, food processing, chemicals, shipping and logistics, electronics and aerospace.The state government delegation is expected to engage with senior executives from major global corporations, including AP Moller Maersk, Engie, EDF, Johnson Controls, Sumitomo Group, Linde, SEALSQ and Tillman Global. Officials indicated that special emphasis will be placed on attracting cutting-edge technologies, promoting innovation and strengthening long-term international partnerships, with the objective of positioning Gujarat as a key player in global value chains.
Apart from investment outreach, Gujarat’s participation at WEF 2026 will also include involvement in global policy discussions. Sanghavi is set to speak as a keynote participant in multiple sessions, presenting Gujarat’s development model and perspectives on themes such as India’s role in the new geo-economic order, energy transition under clean initiatives, water security, sustainability and the growing role of sports in economic and social development.The delegation will also include senior officials associated with GIFT City and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). This comes at a time when GIFT City is witnessing strong momentum in areas such as international banking, fund management, fintech, asset leasing, Global Capability Centres and international education.
According to officials, the GIFT City team will hold strategic interactions with global players across financial services, banking, technology, fintech and institutional investment. These discussions are expected to focus on facilitating global capital flows, expanding collaboration opportunities and positioning GIFT City as a preferred destination for international firms looking to establish or scale operations in and through India.

(State Correspondent)