'India Can Add 20% To Global Growth This Year': WEF Chief At Davos

• India is projected to be the fastest-growing major economy, contributing about 20% of global growth.

• WEF sees a potential India–US trade deal as a further growth catalyst.

• Rapid and decisive reforms have boosted confidence in India’s medium-term outlook.

• Davos discussions are shaped by geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty.

• AI offers major growth potential but poses serious security and governance risks.

  
  

India is poised to outpace its peers and emerge as the fastest-growing major economy this year, a trajectory strong enough to account for roughly one-fifth of global economic expansion. That assessment came from World Economic Forum (WEF) President Børge Brende in an interview with NDTV on the sidelines of the Davos summit.

Brende said India’s momentum could be amplified further if New Delhi and Washington are able to conclude a bilateral trade agreement. Such a deal, he noted, would add another layer of stability and opportunity to an already impressive growth story.

According to the WEF chief, recent data underline India’s expanding role in the global economy. The scale of its growth, he explained, means the benefits extend beyond national borders. India’s performance is no longer just a domestic success; it has become a meaningful driver of worldwide economic activity.

Brende attributed this optimism to the pace and depth of reforms undertaken by the Indian government. While changes to policy and regulation were anticipated, he said the speed and decisiveness with which they were implemented exceeded expectations. This acceleration, in his view, has strengthened confidence in India’s medium-term outlook and reinforced its position as a key engine of global growth.

Geopolitics Loom Large Over Davos

Even as economic prospects dominate parts of the conversation, geopolitics continues to cast a long shadow over the annual gathering in the Swiss Alps. With a large contingent of world leaders—including U.S. President Donald Trump—expected in Davos, questions remain over whether the forum can help ease mounting global tensions.

Brende said hopes had been high for progress on several fronts, including discussions aimed at ending the prolonged war in Ukraine and advancing the next phase of Gaza’s reconstruction. However, fresh disputes—ranging from Greenland-related tensions and trade tariffs to ongoing concerns involving Iran, Yemen, and parts of Latin America—have added further complexity to an already crowded agenda.

The WEF president described this year’s meeting as particularly consequential, with around 65 heads of state and government in attendance and most G7 leaders present. The convergence of economic uncertainty and geopolitical strain, he suggested, makes for a volatile mix—one that defines the “interesting times” in which global leaders now operate.

While stressing that the World Economic Forum does not take political positions, Brende said its role as a neutral platform remains crucial. He expressed hope that dialogue between the United States and European leaders could lead to compromise and cooperation, helping steer the international system toward greater stability.

Artificial Intelligence: Promise and Peril

Beyond geopolitics and growth, artificial intelligence is another defining theme at Davos. Brende characterized AI as a double-edged sword—capable of delivering extraordinary benefits while also introducing serious risks.

On the positive side, he said emerging technologies are increasingly replacing trade as the main engine of growth. AI, in particular, has the potential to dramatically shorten research and development cycles. In fields such as medicine, breakthroughs that once took decades could now be achieved in a matter of years.

At the same time, Brende warned of the darker applications of AI, including its use in autonomous weapons systems. Such developments, he said, underscore the difficulty of establishing global norms and rules at a time when international consensus is already hard to achieve.

These concerns are reflected in the WEF’s Global Risks Report 2026, which identifies geoeconomic confrontation as the most significant near-term threat—surpassing both armed conflict and environmental dangers. Nearly half of those surveyed for the report anticipate a period of heightened instability between 2026 and 2028.

The 56th edition of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters brings together close to 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries. As discussions unfold, India’s growth story, geopolitical fault lines, and the disruptive power of new technologies are set to define the conversations shaping the global agenda.