Naidu: India's Original Davos Man Returns to Shape AI and Clean Energy Future

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is heading to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he is celebrated as one of India's earliest global brand ambassadors. Minister Nara Lokesh reflected that Davos has evolved from a place for signing MoUs to a crucial platform for understanding future trends in business, technology, and policy. Naidu's previous engagements are credited with laying the groundwork for AI hubs in India, and his 2026 agenda includes promoting new AI projects, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing in Andhra Pradesh. The WEF 2026 meeting, under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue," aims to rebuild trust among global leaders amidst geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Key Points: Naidu Heads to Davos 2026 as India's Early Global Brand Ambassador

  • Naidu pioneered India's global outreach at Davos in the 1990s
  • Davos 2026 focuses on AI, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing
  • The forum's purpose has shifted from deal-making to ideation and trend analysis
  • WEF 2026 theme is "A Spirit of Dialogue" amid global tensions
3 min read

"Naidu emerged as one of India's earliest global brand ambassadors," says Nara Lokesh as Andhra CM heads to Davos for WEF

Andhra CM N Chandrababu Naidu, hailed as India's original "Davos Man," returns to WEF 2026 to advance AI hubs and clean energy initiatives.

"Davos has come a long way since the 1990s, when Mr. Naidu emerged as one of India's earliest global brand ambassadors. - Nara Lokesh"

New Delhi, January 19

Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh on Monday said that the World Economic Forum at Davos has evolved significantly since the 1990s, when Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu became "one of India's earliest global brand ambassadors" and added that Davos is no longer just about signing MoUs, but has become a platform to understand the future direction of business, technology, and policies.

In a post on X, Lokesh wrote, "#Davos has come a long way since the 1990s, when Mr. Naidu emerged as one of India's earliest global brand ambassadors. Today, Davos is not just about signing MoUs - it's about understanding where business, technology, and policy are headed. It's where relationships are built, assumptions tested, and the right questions asked."

Expanding on his views in an editorial for Business Line, Lokesh wrote, "Labelled the original "Davos man", he used the platform to talk about a confident, reforming India ready to partner with the world."

He added that "the purpose of Davos has broadened. It is no longer just a marketplace for capital seeking opportunity. Governments and policymakers now come as much to listen as to pitch. Artificial intelligence is redefining productivity and employment...Davos has become a classroom of sorts - a place to learn how these trends intersect and what they mean for policy, industry, and society."

Explaining the true purpose of Davos, Lokesh in Business Line editorial further wrote, "The true purpose of Davos is ideation. It is where governments wear the student's hat - asking hard questions, testing assumptions, and trying to understand how the next generation of business, industry, and technology will converge."

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Sana Sathish Babu, in a post shared on X, said, "It was an honour to give a warm send-off to @ncbn garu in Delhi before his departure to Davos for the World Economic Forum."

Calling Naidu the original "Davos Man", he said the Chief Minister's initiatives at Davos 2025 laid the groundwork for major AI hubs in India.

"Known as the original "Davos Man," his visionary initiatives at Davos 2025 laid the groundwork for India's major AI hubs. Now, at Davos 2026, he is set to plant the seeds for the next wave of transformation another AI hub, clean energy advancements, and cutting-edge manufacturing in Andhra Pradesh," the post further read.

Meanwhile, ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 beginning Monday, Davos had been intensifying its preparations for what has come to be known as the world's most-talked-about gathering.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) will convene its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026, bringing together nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological transformation.

Held under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue", Davos 2026 seeks to provide an impartial platform for global leaders from government, business and civil society to reconnect, rebuild trust and explore collaborative solutions to challenges that increasingly transcend borders.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
Brand ambassador is one thing, but we need to see results on the ground. Davos meetings are fine, but what matters is how it translates to better infrastructure and lower power bills in Vizag and Vijayawada.
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Aryan P
AI hubs in India? That's the future! If Andhra can attract that kind of tech investment, it will be a game-changer for the entire South Indian tech corridor. Bangalore, Hyderabad, and now maybe Amaravati?
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Sarah B
Interesting perspective on how Davos has evolved from deal-making to ideation. In a world with AI and climate challenges, that dialogue is crucial. Hope the "Spirit of Dialogue" theme leads to tangible partnerships.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, while global recognition is nice, I wish the article focused more on the specific policy ideas being discussed. "Clean energy advancements" sounds good, but what's the plan? Our state needs clear details, not just headlines.
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Meera T
True, Naidu garu was a pioneer in engaging with the global economy in the 90s. That confidence helped put Indian states on the map. Hoping this trip brings focus on sustainable manufacturing as well as AI.

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