Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy Calls for Davos Follow-Up Forum in India

Indian states regularly send large political and business delegations to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, seeking global investment and partnerships. While memoranda of understanding are frequently signed during the annual summit, state governments have often faced criticism over limited follow-up and delays in translating agreements into on-ground projects.

Addressing this concern at the current World Economic Forum meeting, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy proposed a formal follow-up forum to assess progress on commitments made in Davos. Speaking during interactions at the summit, he said that waiting a full year for reviews no longer aligns with modern investment cycles and business decision-making.

“One year is a very long time in today’s global business environment,” the Chief Minister said, urging the World Economic Forum to consider organising an annual follow-up meeting in July or August. He offered Hyderabad as a potential host city for such a forum, inviting WEF officials and global investors to participate.

“I request you to join me in making this happen and to bring a July WEF Forum to Hyderabad,” he said, according to officials present at the meetings.

The proposal aims to provide a transparent assessment of investment announcements, project implementation timelines and policy commitments made during the Davos summit. Government officials say such a forum would also help communicate progress to the public and investors, while reinforcing accountability among participating stakeholders.

Revanth Reddy is attending the World Economic Forum as part of Telangana’s broader effort to position itself as a preferred investment destination in emerging and high-growth sectors. The Chief Minister is leading a delegation that includes ministers, senior bureaucrats and industry officials, with a focus on information technology, artificial intelligence, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

During the visit, the Telangana delegation is scheduled to hold meetings with executives from several global companies, including Google, L’Oréal, Unilever, Honeywell, Novartis, Salesforce, Cisco and Infosys. Officials say discussions are centred on new investments as well as the expansion of existing operations in the state.

At the Telangana Pavilion in Davos, the Chief Minister is also participating in round-table meetings with international investors and industry representatives. According to a senior state official, the delegation is showcasing Telangana’s long-term development strategy under its “Telangana Rising 2047” vision document.

As part of the Davos engagements, the state government is unveiling its Life Sciences Policy for 2026–2030 and announcing the establishment of a dedicated artificial intelligence hub. The delegation is also presenting Telangana’s three-zone economic framework, which divides the state into a core urban region, a peri-urban region and a rural agriculture region, each with targeted investment opportunities.

Flagship infrastructure and urban development projects are being highlighted during meetings, including the proposed Bharat Future City, the Musi river rejuvenation project, regional ring road and rail corridors, and planned manufacturing zones. Officials say these initiatives are intended to support long-term industrial growth and employment generation.

The Telangana government has described the Davos participation as part of a sustained international outreach strategy. This is the third consecutive year that a Revanth Reddy-led delegation has attended the World Economic Forum meetings, reflecting what officials describe as a renewed emphasis on global engagement and investment-led growth.

Context: India has emerged as one of the largest participants at the World Economic Forum in recent years, with multiple states competing to attract foreign direct investment. Analysts note that while announcements at Davos often generate attention, structured follow-up remains a challenge across jurisdictions. If implemented, a mid-year World Economic Forum follow-up in India could represent a shift towards more continuous engagement between governments and global investors, while also elevating Hyderabad’s profile as an international business and policy destination.