In a historic first, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from January 18-24, 2026. The visit marks the state’s debut at the global platform and coincides with 25 years of Jharkhand’s statehood.
Following the WEF sessions, Soren will visit the United Kingdom, including London and Oxford, to strengthen institutional, academic, and investment partnerships, officials said. At the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, Soren will deliver a special lecture and engage in a question-and-answer session, becoming the first Indian Chief Minister to address the prestigious institution.
The Jharkhand delegation will participate in state-led thematic sessions, structured dialogues, and interactions at the India Pavilion and other platforms. Focus areas will include sustainable industrial development, responsible resource management, critical minerals, energy transition, and long-term regional growth, with an emphasis on balancing economic development with ecological responsibility and social inclusion.
The WEF participation also aims to highlight the role of sub-national governments in advancing inclusive and resilient economic models. Soren will be joined by other Indian leaders, including Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), and A. Revanth Reddy (Telangana), along with senior Union ministers and over 100 CEOs from India.
During the UK visit, the delegation will explore investment outreach, academic collaborations, innovation-driven partnerships, and interactions with the Indian diaspora, aligning with the growing India-UK economic engagement. Officials said the overall objective is to enhance Jharkhand’s global visibility, attract investments, and support sustainable economic growth in the state.
An official website has been launched detailing Jharkhand’s WEF participation.
