At the World Economic Forum’s 56th annual meeting in Davos, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu voiced strong optimism about India’s future, predicting that the country could lead the global economy by 2047. Calling India a “sleeping giant,” Naidu said it was only a matter of time before the nation rose to the top. “We are fighting with giants, but India is a sleeping giant, and if we wake up, we will be number one by 2047,” he told global delegates at the inauguration of the India Lounge.
India’s presence in Davos was its largest ever, featuring senior Union ministers and leaders from ten states promoting the country’s investment appeal. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, opening the India Pavilion, emphasized India’s resilience, noting that “when the world slowed down, India accelerated.” The IMF recently raised India’s growth forecast for FY2026 to 7.3 percent, while WEF President Børge Brende said India could contribute nearly 20 percent of global growth this year.
Naidu spotlighted Andhra Pradesh’s role as an investment magnet, attracting nearly a quarter of India’s new investments. His schedule included meetings with leaders from IBM, Google, and Maersk. The state also announced a $10 billion partnership with RMZ Group to develop IT, data center, and manufacturing infrastructure across Visakhapatnam and Rayalaseema, expected to generate over 100,000 jobs.
Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision, other states like Telangana and Kerala showcased their own growth agendas, underscoring a competitive yet unified drive toward India’s economic leadership.
