Trump to Lead Large US Delegation at WEF Davos Meeting with Strong Representation from India

US President Donald Trump is set to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. He will be joined by five cabinet members. The event will also feature a significant delegation from India, as announced by the organisers. The WEF noted that 64 heads of government or state are expected, with six out of seven G-7 countries represented by their top leaders.

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President Trump will lead the largest-ever US delegation to Davos, comprising at least five secretaries. Expected attendees include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. A bipartisan group from the US Congress and state governors will also participate.

Global Leaders and Delegations

China and Pakistan are sending large delegations to the summit. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present as well. WEF President and CEO Borge Brende highlighted that the meeting would focus on Ukraine, Gaza, and Latin America, including Venezuela. The five-day event starts on January 18 under the theme of fostering dialogue.

The summit will see over 3,000 world leaders from more than 130 countries. This includes over 1,700 business leaders, half of whom are CEOs or chairpersons. A record number of 400 top political leaders will attend, with a strong presence from Latin America. More than 30 foreign ministers and over 60 finance ministers and central bank governors are expected.

Indian Participation

India will have a robust presence at the event. At least four Union ministers—Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi, and K Ram Mohan Naidu—will attend alongside six chief ministers. These include Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra and N Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh. Over 100 top CEOs from India are also expected.

Indian business leaders attending include Reliance Industries' Mukesh Ambani and Tata Group's N Chandrasekaran. Other notable names are Bajaj Group's Sanjiv Bajaj and Jubilant Bhartia Group's Hari S Bhartia. Former Union minister Smriti Zubin Irani will participate as founder and chairperson of Alliance for Global Good: Gender Equity and Equality.

Key Themes and Discussions

The WEF Annual Meeting aims to address complex geopolitical challenges since 1945. Brende stated that dialogue is crucial in these uncertain times. The meeting will provide a platform for global leaders to navigate divisions and explore solutions to pressing issues. Historic participation levels are anticipated this year.

Top political figures attending include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng will also be present. Presidents from Argentina, Indonesia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Congo, Ecuador, Finland, Mozambique, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Israel, and Syria are expected.

International Cooperation

The meeting occurs at a pivotal moment for international cooperation amid significant geoeconomic changes. It will feature discussions on advancing solutions to current global challenges. The event promises an unparalleled mix of global leaders and innovators working together.

From Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend along with Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also expected to be there.

The gathering will include close to 200 civil society leaders from labour unions and non-governmental organisations. Experts from leading universities and think tanks worldwide will also participate in discussions.

The summit will feature numerous panel discussions involving Indian leaders on topics like India's potential to become the world's third-largest economy. They will engage in bilateral meetings and attend both India-specific and global events alongside the main WEF meeting.

With inputs from PTI