WEF: Narendra Modi becomes first PM to attend Davos summit since 1997, here's why his visit holds importance

On Tuesday at the Davos summit, the spotlight will be on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he has become the first Indian PM to attend WEF summit in Switzerland since 1997. 

The last Indian PM to attend the summit was H.D. Deve Gowda in 1997. 

This time it's also special because the Indian presence is set to be the largest-ever with as many as six union ministers, two chief ministers, several top government officials and over 100 CEOs, among others, already figuring among the registered participants.

And to honour the same, the welcome reception on the inaugural evening will be hosted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India), which will showcase "India's exquisite cuisine and age-old yoga heritage as well as the spirit of a young, innovative New India".

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 pic.twitter.com/cDCr3yKsiv

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2018

The official sessions at WEF will also have special India-focused discussions including one on "India's role in the world", how it is rethinking economics with the use of big data in policymaking and the country's role in securing peace and stability in the Asian century.

Prime Minister Modi left for Davos on Sunday, and in his departure statement on Sunday 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”.

“At Davos, I look forward to sharing my vision for India’s future engagement with the international community,” he said.

In an exclusive conversation with Sudhir Chaudhary, editor-in-chief of Zee News, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to his maiden appearance in Davos said, "Davos is a major platform in the financial world. Many business leaders gather there to deliberate upon the economic future of the world. India is the centre of attraction for the entire world. There are two reasons for that. First, our GDP is growing at a fast pace - and this has been accepted by leading agencies like the World Bank, Moody's etc. Second, due to our strong democratic values. It's a unique combination of both in India. And that's what has evoked everyone's interest. So it's an opportunity for India to showcase itself on a global platform like WEF in Davos."

Modi, who will deliver the opening plenary address at the WEF summit on Tuesday, said he is also looking forward to separate bilateral meetings with Swiss president Alain Berset and Swedish prime minister Stefan Lofven in Davos. 

PM Modi will also host a dinner for global CEOs on Monday. On Tuesday, he will interact with global business community members, besides delivering his keynote address.

But as the analysts will be closely watching that what PM Modi has to say, Indian CEOs on Monday 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.

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.

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.

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.

Before his departure from India, Modi had said he will share his vision for India's future engagements with international community in Davos, and will seek "serious attention" of world leaders on existing and emerging challenges to the contemporary global systems.

(With inputs from agencies)