India at WEF 2025: Driving global collaboration in skills, innovation, and sustainable growth

The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025, held from January 20th to 24th, 2025 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, served as a global platform to address pressing challenges in economic growth. With a strong focus on skills, innovation, and sustainable growth, the event gathered world leaders, policymakers, and business executives to drive impactful change. At WEF 2025, India, represented by a high-level delegation, actively contributed to shaping discussions on workforce development, digital transformation, and global collaboration, reinforcing its role as a leader in skills and innovation.

India’s presence at WEF 2025 was marked by a distinguished delegation led by key government representatives and ministers from various sectors. Additionally, over 65 Indian business leaders attended, with several Indian companies setting up lounges to showcase innovations, reinforcing India’s potential to be a global leader in skilled human capital.

Key themes and India’s strategic focus at WEF 2025

The WEF 2025 agenda focused on the following themes:

1. Rebuilding trust through international cooperation.
2. Reimagining economic growth in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
3. Investing in people by promoting human capital development and job creation.
4. Safeguarding the planet through sustainable solutions and climate action.
5. Balancing short-term industry goals with long-term transformation.

For India, these themes aligned with its focus on workforce development, AI-driven skilling, and sustainability, positioning it as a key player in shaping the future of work and innovation.

Key discussions held at WEF 2025 with reference to skills and human capital development

As India’s Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary engaged in panel discussions, roundtables, and Government-to-Government (G2G) and Government-to-Business (G2B) meetings at Davos. Some of the notable key discussions included:

•     Preparing India’s workforce for an AI-driven technological landscape.
•     Strengthening global economic relations and investment opportunities.
•     The impact of AI adoption on emerging markets.
•     Advancing skilling and scaling strategies for industry transformation.
•     Enhancing women’s participation in India’s workforce to bridge skill gaps.

Major announcements and collaborations

1. Partnership with Meta for Skill India Assistant (SIA)

•     AI-powered initiative leveraging Meta’s Llama model.
•     Integrated with the Skill India Digital Hub to provide personalized learning, career guidance, and training resources.
•     Beta version completed; and the launch is set for February 2025.

2. Telangana’s Skill University Initiative for GCCs

•     At a CII breakfast session in Davos, Telangana’s IT Minister D Sridhar Babu highlighted the state’s commitment to skilling through Skill University.
•     Focus on ESG, green energy, and inclusivity as key drivers for Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
•     Aims to create a globally competitive talent pool in technology and innovation.

3. Advocating skill-based hiring over degrees

•     Shri Jayant Chaudhary emphasized that India holds 16% of the global AI-skilled workforce, making it a key hub for AI talent.
•     Urged corporate India to shift focus from traditional degrees to skills-based hiring to meet evolving industry demands.

4. Andhra Pradesh’s Vision for Green Industrialization and Leadership Development

• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Government of Andhra Pradesh, emphasized green energy investments and the potential for jobs and skilling.
• Plans for a Global Leadership Centre (GLC) in Amaravati to nurture future industry leaders.
• Signed a letter of intent with IMD Business School, Switzerland, to enhance global leadership capabilities.
• Committed to AI, real-time data utilization, and digital governance for sustainable economic transformation.
• Stressed the role of green hydrogen and renewable energy as economic growth drivers.

Also read: Union Budget 2025-26: Highlights on Skills, Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurship

India ranked second in job market readiness

During this period, India achieved the distinction of being ranked second globally in job market readiness for future skills, including artificial intelligence (AI) and green skills, as per the QS World Future Skills Index 2025 – India Spotlight report. India ranked 25th in all indicators, which encompass factors such as the alignment between skills and employer needs, academic preparedness, and economic transformation.

The report highlights India’s strong position in future workforce readiness while identifying key areas for improvement, such as bridging skill gaps in entrepreneurship and sustainability. These findings align with the discussions at WEF 2025, reinforcing India’s need for continuous skilling initiatives and industry-academia collaboration. To explore a detailed analysis of India’s future workforce readiness and key skill gaps, read the full World Future Skills Index – India Spotlight report.

Insights from the Future of Jobs Report 2025

Ahead of WEF 2025, the WEF released The Future of Jobs Report 2025, highlighting:

•     170 million new jobs expected by 2030, while 92 million jobs will be displaced due to automation and technology shifts.
•     India ranks second globally (after the U.S.) in future work preparedness.
•     59% of the global workforce will require upskilling to remain competitive.
•     Surging demand for skills in AI, robotics, renewable energy, and data analytics.

India’s participation at WEF 2025 underscores its leadership in global workforce transformation, skill development, and innovation. Through strategic collaborations and policy advocacy, India is positioning itself as a leader in AI-driven upskilling, sustainability, and economic partnerships. At the forefront of global change, India is rapidly striving to become the global hub for innovation and skill development, paving the way towards becoming a “Viksit Bharat 2047” – developed nation. As India continues to invest in skills and education, its leadership in workforce transformation and innovation will shape not just its own economic trajectory but also the global future of work. Strategic collaborations and policy initiatives will be key drivers of this journey.