Taking place in New Delhi from 3rd to 4th October 2019, the World Economic Forum’s 33rd India Economic Summit saw collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The theme was ‘Innovating for India: Strengthening South Asia, Impacting the World’. The Summit co-chairs were Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. With over 800 participants from across the region and globally, the gathering presented an opportunity to discuss key issues facing the world.
Key Highlights from the Summit
The Summit addressed multiple critical themes. Global inequality was recognized as a mounting challenge, both within and across countries, particularly concerning wealth and income disparities. Gender equality was another significant focus, especially its status in the region and worldwide.
Agricultural Vision and Regional Cooperation
Over 70 global and regional leaders showed commitment to boosting investment in integrated food value chains throughout the country. For ‘shared prosperity’, bilateral cooperation and innovation are considered vital, with the potential to transform the region into a hub for cutting-edge technology.
India Specific Aspects
The title of the India Social Entrepreneurs of the Year 2019 was awarded to Shanti Raghavan & Dipesh Sutariya of EnAble India. Their work changed the mindset of 729 businesses and established frameworks for inclusion in universities and government agencies, creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities in India.
| Aspect | Key Facts |
|---|---|
| Foreign Policy | Neighbourhood characterised by high levels of regional cooperation, except for one unnamed country. |
| Economic | India cautiously optimistic about potential free trade agreement with the United States. |
| Access to Health | Drones to deliver critical medical supplies and vaccines to rural communities in Telangana. |
| Sanitation | Young Global Leaders community commits to financing urban sanitation in 10 Indian cities with over $3.5 million. |
| Smart Cities | The Smart Cities Mission India joined the G20 Smart City Alliance to establish norms for smart city technology. |
| E-Mobility | A 100km electric vehicle corridor is to be established in Punjab as part of a sustainable pilot project. |
| Clean Fuel | Clean India aims to fly 1 million airline passengers between Delhi and Mumbai by 2030, promoting the use of biofuels and blended fuels. |
About World Economic Forum and Confederation of Indian Industry
Founded in 1971 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is a non-profit foundation known internationally for public-private cooperation. It brings together key political, business, cultural, and other leaders to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization. Since its inception in 1895, it has played a crucial role in India’s development process, working collaboratively with industry, government, and civil society via advisory and consultative processes.
