WEF Davos 2018: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will one of the major attendees among the world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland. The event will be held from January 23-26, where Prime Minister Modi will give the opening address at the forum on January 23. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first Indian PM to visit the high-profile summit in some 20 years. The last Prime Minister from India to visit the forum was HD Deve Gowda in 1997. The dignitaries at the event include ministers and business magnates from across the world. In fact, the annual conference will also be attended by world leaders like US President Donald Trump, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK Prime Minister Theresa May. Indian business leaders there will include Reliance chief Mukesh Ambani, Adani Group chief Gautam Adani, Wipro chief Azim Premji, Bajaj Auto’s Rahul Bajaj, Tata group chairman N Chandrasekaran, ICICI Bank’s Chanda Kochhar and many others. The surprise entrant at the forum will be Shah Rukh Khan, who is representing Bollywood. The actor will be honoured with the ‘Crystal Award’, along with Cate Blanchett and Elton John. After the opening speech on Tuesday, PM Modi, on Wednesday, will host a dinner for global CEOs.
Here are the highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit:
02: 35 am: PM Narendra Modi hosts round-table meet at World Economic Forum 2018, with CEOs of top companies around the world in Davos.
02: 35 am: “Extremely charged that I’ve had this amazing opportunity, this award, being recognized like this for minuscule work that I did, I’d like to do it with even more fervor. What is even more pleasant is that India is here in full power,” says Shah Rukh Khan in Davos during World Economic Forum 2018.
02: 15 am: Acharya Smith & Acharya Bharadwaj express their happiness to get a chance to perform Yoga sessions at World Economic Forum in Davos.
01: 50 am: This time World Economic Forum is India’s World Economic Forum. PM is promoting India from Davos, it is a great opportunity. In Andhra Pradesh we are gong in a big way for investment,” says Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu in Davos at World Economic Forum 2018.
01: 50 am: Film maker Karan Johar feels proud on Shah Rukh Khan recieving Crystal Award. He further says, “SC judgement went in favor of #Padmaavat, it is a matter of happiness that the law has prevailed. I hope for a safe release.”
01: 15 am: “PM Narendra Modi’s presence gives a big message to the world community, that India is open for business. Here, we are all giving out information about the ‘New India 2022’ that we are working towards,” says Union Minister Piyush Goyal in Davos.
12: 40 am: Here is the impressive opening performance in Davos at the World Economic Forum 2018
12: 10 am: “We maintained our growth along with structural reforms, we worked for financial inclusion along with financial growth. PM has worked on global terrorism on the diplomatic front & to tell all of it India’s delegation is here,” says NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant in Davos at World Economic Forum
11: 20 pm: “PM is coming here to tell unique story of India’s growth along with major structural reforms & fact that India opened up economy at a time when countries are closing economies. Our FDI grew by 62% when across world it fell by 16%,” NITI Aayog CEO A Kant in Davos at World Economic Forum 2018
10: 30 pm: For the achievements of artists category, Shah Rukh Khan receives the Crystal Awards in Davos at the World Economic Forum 2018
10: 00 pm: PM Narendra Modi meets Swiss Confederation Alain Berset in Davos, during World Economic Forum 2018
9: 45 pm: PM Modi became the first Indian minister to attend the WEF in more than two decades. Prime Minister Modi is being accompanied by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, among others.
9: 26 pm: The world economy is gathering speed with growth forecast for 2018 and 2019 pegged at 3.9 per cent, the IMF said today but warned that the present economic momentum reflects a “confluence of factors” that is unlikely to last for long. In its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) update released today in Davos, Switzerland on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, the IMF said global output is estimated to have grown by 3.7 per cent in 2017, which is 0.1 percentage point faster than projected in the fall and half percentage point higher than in 2016.
9: 02 pm: Yoga gurus, who will showcase the ancient Yoga heritage of India, at the World Economic Forum 2018 welcome reception in Davos
8: 47 pm: India is projected to grow at 7.4 per cent in 2018 as against China’s 6.8 per cent, the IMF said today, making it the fastest growing country among emerging economies following last year’s slowdown due to demonetisation and the implementation of the GST.
8: 32 pm: IMF released its latest World Economic outlook update on sidelines of Davos World Economic Forum 2018, projects 7.4% growth rate for India in 2018 & 7.8% growth rate in 2019.
8: 15 pm: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu with officials of the Govt of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland in Davos at World Economic Forum 2018.
7: 58 pm: Master Chef India season 5 winner Kirti Bhoutika set to serve ‘India Ki Mithaas’ dessert to the delegates on the welcome dinner hosted by India at Davos.
#MasterChefIndia season 5 winner Kirti Bhoutika set to serve ‘India Ki Mithaas’ dessert to the delegates on the welcome dinner hosted by India at #Davos #WorldEconomicForum2018 #DDNewsInDavos @WEF #IndiaMeansBusiness pic.twitter.com/6fPyBlu8T9
— Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) January 22, 2018
7: 29 pm: Meanwhile, Top banker Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank, who has also been regular here, said the Indian economy is seeing broad-based improvement across several sectors and is on track for a robust growth that can be tapped by one and all.
7: 28 pm: Eminent banker Uday Kotak, a Davos veteran who has been attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in this Swiss ski resort town for years, said India needs to understand the subtle difference between sales and marketing, and present the India story accordingly while positioning itself in the role of a statesman. While, Spicejet CEO Ajay Singh, who has himself steered a major turnaround in a sector like aviation, said India has a great story to tell at Davos and there can be no one better than Prime Minister Modi to tell this story.
7: 18 pm: As the world leaders await to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India’s engagement with the world, Indian CEOs today made a strong pitch for a statesman like position for the country to counter the protectionism and domestic rhetoric likely to be presented by countries like the US.
7: 12 pm: More than 60 heads of state and government, plus hundreds of business leaders, academics, civil society advocates and celebrities are meeting in Davos from Tuesday to Friday, an event featuring roughly 400 debates and panels on topics like action on the environment, the outlook for Africa, and ways that refugees can contribute to their host countries.
7: 05 pm: Meanwhile, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan talked about being awarded with the 24th Annual Crystal Award at World Economic Forum 2018. Watch this video-
Bollywood superstar #ShahRukhKhan talks about being awarded with the 24th Annual Crystal Award at #WorldEconomicForum2018
@WEF @iamsrk#DDNewsInDavos #IndiaMeansBusiness pic.twitter.com/snkPijMOgw— Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) January 22, 2018
6: 47 pm: Here is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s schedule after reaching Davos:
• PM would be meeting Swiss President Alain Berset today. The prime minister would also attend the welcome reception by India and later host a dinner for global CEOs.
• Modi would deliver the opening plenary address at the WEF summit tomorrow. He is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in Davos.
• Tomorrow, Modi would interact with global business community members, besides delivering his keynote address. The theme for this year’s summit is ‘Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World’.
6: 32 pm: On his way to Davos, PM Modi has arrived in Zurich. He arrived at Zurich International Airport to participate in the World Economic Forum on Monday evening. This is the first visit by Indian PM to Davos in 20 years, PM would make a keynote speech at the Plenary of the World Economic Forum, address International Business Council and interact with CEOs.
6: 15 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra in World Economic Forum 2018, ‘India Means Business’
Prime Minister @NarendraModi‘s mantra in #WorldEconomicForum2018, ‘#IndiaMeansBusiness‘
Full video???? https://t.co/H9rePr49mH pic.twitter.com/Prj6Vo4jrx— Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) January 22, 2018
6: 06 pm: The prime minister had said in his departure statement yesterday that India’s engagement with the outside world in the recent years has become “truly and effectively multi-dimensional covering the political, economic, people to people, security and other spheres”.
6: 02 pm: Modi, who will deliver the opening plenary address at the WEF summit tomorrow, had said yesterday that he is also looking forward to separate bilateral meetings with Swiss President Alain Berset and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in Davos. Modi will host a dinner for global CEOs today. Tomorrow, he will interact with global business community members, besides delivering his keynote address.
5: 57 pm: Watch Video| PM Modi lands in Zurich.
#PMInDavos: PM Modi lands in Zurich.@Zakka_Jacob with more details on it. pic.twitter.com/QNcM0O40Ij
— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 22, 2018
5: 52 pm: “PM’s Modi’s revolutionary and unorthodox reforms have generated a tremendous amount of interest in the global investor community,” said Dr.Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO in Davos World Economic Forum
5: 43 pm: The five-day WEF affair seems to be bigger this year and so does the snowfall, as the first day itself saw roads getting closed and serpentine traffic since morning. It’s India everywhere in this snow-covered Swiss resort town — once known for health tourism, always frequented by skiing enthusiasts and home to the annual week-long pow-wow of global elite in sub-zero temperatures.
5: 28 pm: PM Narendra Modi lands in Zurich, will leave for Davos for World Economic Forum.
#WATCH PM Narendra Modi arrives in Zurich, to leave for #Davos for #WorldEconomicForum #Switzerland pic.twitter.com/WmSMOTf4us
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018
5: 15 pm: A team of chefs from Taj Group is preparing cuisines at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Mainly consisting of Indian cuisine, the spread prepared by these chefs will be served at three different venues. Speaking to ANI, Raghu Deora, the logistical head for this entire mission, said,”I have been told that he likes anything and everything vegetarian. It will be like ‘Ghar ka Swad Davos mein” on serving to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
4: 57 pm: It is a great opportunity to market our country India. A lot of investors now a days are looking to invest in India. Govt has changed laws for ease of doing business. Global business community is very happy to invest in India: Yusuff Ali, Chairman, LuLu Group in Davos.
4: 23 pm: After 20 yrs an Indian PM is attending World Economic Forum 2018 . More than 50 head of states, many CEOs will be there, this is a great opportunity to market India: Yusuff Ali, Chairman, LuLu Group in Davos
4: 05 pm: We are a team of 32 chefs&managers catering to India Adda, AP lounge& India Reception for about 12,000 ppl,also have a special dinner at Inter Continental. PM Modi will be having our food at 3 different venues. There is much bigger India presence in Davos: Raghu Deora, Taj Group
3: 28 pm: India story in terms of what is going to unfold, with the strength that the economy has now gained is phenomenal. And I think there is extreme positivity both by the Indian corporates as well as foreign corporates: Chandrajit Banerjee, DG CII at Davos.
3: 14 pm: Our economy is great,we have problems but this PM is outstanding.I don’t want to equate my nation with any individual,we have our problems but a lot of our population is below 35,if we provide them education&skills,it will be really strong demographic dividend: Rahul Bajaj
2: 59 pm: Visuals of venue of World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos; PM Modi to address plenary session tomorrow.
2: 51 pm: “Deve Gowda came to Davos 21 years ago. Unfortunately he came with his entire family, perhaps not the right thing to do. It’s a very serious occasion, not a picnic. Anyway, we’re delighted that PM Modi is coming,” said Rahul Bajaj, Industrialist.
2: 40 pm: Poster of PM Narendra Modi seen in Davos. He will be addressing plenary session tomorrow.
2: 28 pm: In the largest ever Indian presence in the 48-year history of WEF summit in this Swiss ski resort town, more than 130 Indian CEOs are present along with over 2,000 business leaders and 70 heads of states and governments. Besides, several other leaders from politics, business, academia, art, culture and civil society are also present for the event which opens today and will close on Friday.
2.15 pm: The Annual Meeting will feature over 340 top political leaders with 10 heads of state and government from Africa, nine from the Middle East and North Africa and six from Latin America.
2.00 pm: This year a record number of leaders from G7 countries will take part in the forum. Germany’s Angela Merkel; Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni; French President Emmanuel Macron; Theresa May; Justin Trudeau; and Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission will be there with US President Donald Trump.
1.45 pm: WEF 2018’s opening address will be delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. US president Donald Trump will deliver a keynote address before the close of the meeting.
1.30 pm: The richest 1 per cent in India cornered 73 per cent of the wealth generated in the country last year, a new survey showed today, presenting a worrying picture of rising income inequality. Besides, 67 crore Indians comprising the population’s poorest half saw their wealth rise by just 1 per cent, as per the survey released by the international rights group Oxfam hours before the start of the annual congregation of the rich and powerful from across the world in this resort town.
1.15 pm: Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan will be seen at the World Economic Forum where he is set to be honoured with the ‘Crystal Award’, along with Cate Blanchett and Elton John.
1.00 pm: Yesterday, in a series of tweets with ‘IndiaMeansBusiness’ hashtag, he said, “At Davos, I look forward to sharing my vision for India’s future engagement with the international community.”
12.45 pm: PM Modi will be visiting Davos for 24-hours. Officials describe his visit as “short but very focused”.
12.30 pm: PM Narendra Modi will host a dinner for CEOs from across the world — 20 of Indian companies and 40 from elsewhere — on Monday evening. At the dinner, he will interact with a large gathering of 120 members of WEF’s international business community on Tuesday.
