Davos 2026: 9 Indian States Secure Over ₹30 Lakh Crore in Investments - A New Era of Economic Growth
The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, is a prestigious annual event that brings together world leaders, business executives, and experts from various fields. In 2026, India emerged as a preferred destination for global investments, with nine states presenting themselves as a unified investment market. These states highlighted opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy, manufacturing, and aviation, cementing India's position as a future-ready investment destination.
The nine participating states were Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Assam, and Jharkhand, with Assam and Jharkhand making their debut at the summit. The focus areas included digital infrastructure, clean energy, manufacturing, and defense. All participating states were integrated with the National Single Window System (NSWS), a centralized digital platform designed to streamline investment approvals and clearances.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state government had signed MoUs worth ₹30 lakh crore at the WEF Davos 2026. About 83% of these agreements involve foreign direct investments (FDIs), while 16% are partnerships with foreign technologies. Companies from 18 countries will be investing in Maharashtra, creating over 40 lakh job opportunities. Major investors include Lodha Developers Limited, Open AI, Iron Mountain, Princeton Data Group, Ghostworks, Volkswagen, and Coca-Cola. The investments will primarily focus on developing data centers.
Projects: - Massive Data Centre Hub: Lodha Developers pledged an investment of around ₹1 lakh crore to develop a 2.5 GW Green Data Centre Park in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, one of the largest digital infrastructures in India. - AI & Tech Node: Plans are underway to build an innovation-focused city infrastructure near Navi Mumbai. - AI & Capability Centre BKC: A center to accelerate global research and development efforts in Maharashtra. - Steel Expansion: An upgrade of a ₹20,000 crore plant in Gadchiroli to increase steel production capacity. - Logistics & Urban Projects: Significant investments in logistics parks and mixed infrastructure under the MMRDA agreements.
Telangana
Telangana secured investments worth nearly ₹30,000 crore at the WEF 2026. The state presented itself as a technology- and innovation-driven economy with a rich digital infrastructure and an 'AI first' approach. Key areas for investment include AI, data centers, and high-end manufacturing. These projects are expected to create nearly 12,000 direct and indirect jobs and strengthen the state's manufacturing sector.
Projects: - AI-Powered Global Beauty Tech Hub: L'Oréal plans to set up an AI-powered global beauty tech hub in Hyderabad, focusing on technology and research and development. - 100MW AI-Ready Data Centre: UPC Volt will develop a 100MW AI-ready data center in Bharat Future City. - Steel Plant: A ₹12,500 crore investment by the Rashmi Group to set up a steel plant in Telangana. - Manufacturing Expansion: Schneider Electric India will expand its manufacturing capacities in Telangana. - Startup Development: An MoU with Dubai Multi Commodities Centre for startup development and ecosystem building.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh signed MoUs worth over ₹9,750 crore at the WEF Davos summit. Investors are primarily focused on IT, clean energy, defense, logistics, and warehousing. The Invest UP agency coordinated meetings and signed MoUs.
Projects: - Waste to Energy Projects: An MoU with SAEL Industries Ltd. worth ₹8,000 crore for waste to clean energy projects. - AI-Ready Data Centre: Sift Technologies will invest ₹1,600 crore in AI-ready data centers. - AI City in Noida: An investment of ₹150 crore for a defense manufacturing AI city. - Logistics and Warehousing: Development of logistics and warehousing assets to enhance supply chains and distribution networks.
Karnataka
Nokia is interested in setting up GCC and research centers in Karnataka, expanding its presence beyond Bengaluru. The state also held discussions with Cloudflare and US-based space and aerospace companies like Vast Space and Voyager Technologies.
Projects: - Renewable Energy Investment: The RPSG group has already invested in renewable energy schemes in the Vijapura and Ballari districts. - Wind Power Manufacturing: Facilitating large wind power towers to boost the clean energy sector. - Industrial Skills Development: Establishing 20 more training centers in Tier 2 cities.
Other States
- Jharkhand: Tata Steel plans to invest ₹11,000 crore in low-carbon steelmaking technologies. Discussions were held with Hitachi India on potential investments in power and grid infrastructure. - Andhra Pradesh: RMZ Corporation announced a strategic investment partnership to develop large-scale mixed-use, digital, industrial, and logistic infrastructure. - Kerala: Secured investment commitments worth $14 billion or ₹1.18 lakh crore, covering renewable energy, GCC, skill development, tourism, medical services, wellness, and infrastructure.
India is rapidly expanding its clean electricity pipeline through large-scale solar and wind farms, aiming to significantly increase clean electricity-generating capacity. The country plans to upgrade grid infrastructure and invest in energy storage solutions to ensure 24x7 renewable power, enhancing energy reliability.
Conclusion
Davos 2026 highlighted India's growing profile as a global investment destination. The nine states secured large commitments across AI, clean energy, manufacturing, and digital infrastructure, reflecting strong investor confidence in India's policy stability, scale, and future-ready growth story. These investments are poised to drive long-term economic growth, job creation, and global integration.
