At the World Economic Forum 2026, describing India as the next growth engine for the world economy, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said India stands out as a country shaping the next phase of global growth and knowledge leadership.  

“India is at a defining moment, poised to play a central role in meeting the world’s future needs for talent, innovation and knowledge,” Naidu said.  

He was speaking at the session ‘India at the Centre: The Geography of Growth—The Andhra Pradesh Advantage’, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), coinciding with the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.  

Naidu highlighted India’s approach to adopting reforms essential for growth, making it a business-friendly country.  

“From the internet revolution of the 1990s to India’s reforms beginning in 1991, our thinking and aspirations opened up—how the world is moving, how India is moving and how we are catching up. Today, the world will depend on India for knowledge. India is business-friendly, built on trust, something CII has partnered in for over three decades,” he said.  

Andhra Pradesh leading the growth chart  

Rajiv Memani, President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Regional Managing Partner of EY Africa India region, Chair—EY Growth Markets Council, also spoke during the event. 

“Andhra Pradesh is witnessing even stronger growth than India, backed by 50 Fortune 500 companies, a strong coastline with multimodal connectivity, and momentum to emerge as a global supply chain hub,” he said.  

“With 256 large projects approved, Development Policy 4.0, focus on jobs, decarbonisation, renewables and GCCs, Andhra Pradesh has all the ingredients to become India’s economic hub and lead the country’s growth story,” Memani added.  

US-India partnership

Former US Ambassador to India and Chief Administrative Officer at Mastercard, Richard Verma, stated that the US-India partnership is shaping the defining relationship of the 21st century, made possible by the transformation underway in India's states. 

India has emerged as the largest hub outside the US for Mastercard, built on growing trust in the digital economy and digital assets.  

Sanjiv Bajaj, Past President of CII and Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv Limited, said that India continues to grow steadily, driven by visible transformation in physical infrastructure and a digital infrastructure that is among the most unique in the world. 

“This momentum is supported by competitiveness and improved ease of doing business, spanning hard infrastructure, manufacturing and critical soft infrastructure. Traditional sectors such as marine and food processing, alongside MSMEs and new-age industries, are being actively strengthened. Port-led infrastructure development is a key focus, and Andhra Pradesh is playing a central role in driving this transformation,” he said.