World Economic Forum 2026: UP’s Blueprint for a Green & Smart Industrial Future

World Economic Forum 2026: UP’s Blueprint for a Green & Smart Industrial Future

At the World Economic Forum’s 56th Annual Meeting in Davos, Uttar Pradesh did not merely attend the world’s most consequential gathering of capital and leadership — it came with a structured proposition, a credible record, and concrete commitments across clean energy, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and global capability centres.

Setting the Stage

Held from January 19 to 23, 2026, in Davos, Switzerland, the WEF Annual Meeting brought together nearly 3,000 global leaders from over 130 countries. The forum included around 400 political leaders, 65 heads of state, and more than 850 CEOs and chairpersons under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue”.

At this global platform, where capital, policy, and innovation converge, Uttar Pradesh arrived with a defined objective—to reposition itself from a state of potential to a scale-driven destination for long-term investment.

The delegation was led by the Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Suresh Kumar Khanna. Senior officials included:

Shri Deepak Kumar
Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Shri Amit Singh
Advisor to the Chief Minister’s Office, Government of Uttar Pradesh
Vijay Kiran Anand
Chief Executive Officer, Invest UP and Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA)
Shri Inderjit Singh
Director, Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA)

The delegation was received in Switzerland by Shri Mridul Kumar, Ambassador of India to Switzerland, whose presence underscored the diplomatic weight the engagement carried. The Embassy of India in Switzerland reaffirmed its full support for the engagements ahead.

A Prepared and Structured Investment Pitch

Uttar Pradesh’s participation at Davos was based on clear planning and a strong understanding of investor priorities—where capital can be deployed, how projects will scale, and which ecosystems can support execution.

At the forum:

1. Invest UP presented sector-specific policies in textiles, pharmaceuticals, and Global Capability Centres (GCCs)
2. UPNEDA outlined a renewable energy framework covering solar, bioenergy, and green hydrogen
3. Governance measures, including a one per cent reduction in stamp duty for women, reflected alignment with ESG priorities

This approach ensured clear and practical communication, positioning Uttar Pradesh as a state capable of converting policy into execution-ready and bankable opportunities.

The Clean Energy Imperative

Clean energy emerged as a defining focus of Uttar Pradesh’s engagement at Davos 2026. The state positioned itself as an active participant in India’s energy transition, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy, bioenergy, and green hydrogen.

Key investment commitments in this sector include:

1. ₹25,000 crore investment by Essar Group across energy systems, logistics, warehousing, and data centres
2. ₹10,500 crore by INOX GFL Group for 2 GW solar power projects and a 3 GW solar module manufacturing plant
3. ₹3,805 crore by RPSG Group for solar module manufacturing
4. ₹8,000 crore by SAEL Industries Ltd and REC Ltd for 500 MW agriculture waste-to-energy projects
5. ₹500 crore by Renergy Dynamics Private Limited for compressed biogas (CBG) plants
6. ₹820 crore by Carbon Compass Services LLP for briquetting, CBG plants, and carbon credit solutions

These investments collectively strengthen the state’s clean energy ecosystem by expanding renewable capacity, improving energy security, enabling agri-waste utilisation, supporting rural incomes, and advancing circular economy practices.

In addition, NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) signed a non-financial MoU with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to support the development of renewable energy and Green Hydrogen projects, further strengthening the state’s long-term clean energy strategy. The agreement was executed between Shri Vijay Kiran Anand, CEO, Invest UP, and Shri DMR Panda, Executive Director, NGEL, in the presence of the Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Suresh Kumar Khanna.

The Digital Frontier: AI, Data, and Infrastructure

Alongside its focus on clean energy, Uttar Pradesh also emphasised the development of digital infrastructure, particularly in artificial intelligence, data centres, and IT-enabled services. This reflects the state’s effort to align with the growing demand for data processing capacity and digital services.

A key development in this area is:

1. USD 25 billion investment by AM Green Group to develop a 1 GW AI compute hub in Greater Noida

The project will be developed in phases, with initial capacity expected by 2028 and full capacity by 2030. The facility is planned to operate on round-the-clock carbon-free green energy. It is expected to support large-scale data processing and computing needs, contributing to the state’s digital infrastructure capacity.

Additional investments and proposals include:

1. ₹1,600 crore by Sify Technologies for an AI-ready data centre and AI City in Noida
2. ₹100–200 crore investment proposal by SA Technologies Inc for a Global Capability Centre (GCC) focused on IT and digital services

These developments, supported by existing policies and infrastructure in areas such as Noida and Greater Noida, indicate a steady expansion of Uttar Pradesh’s role in digital services, data infrastructure, and technology-led employment.

"These collaborations reflect the state’s long-term vision for sustainable development, technology-enabled governance and large-scale job creation."

— Shri Suresh Kumar Khanna, Hon’ble Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister,

Manufacturing, Defence, and Clean Mobility

Uttar Pradesh also advanced its position in manufacturing, defence production, and clean mobility—sectors that align with national priorities such as Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The focus remains on building domestic capacity, improving industrial capability, and supporting technology-led production.

Key investment commitments include the following:

1. ₹1,100 crore by TWI Group of Companies to establish a hybrid EV motorcycle manufacturing plant
2. ₹150 crore by Yeoman for weapons system integration and defence manufacturing
3. ₹1,100 crore by Promoteq (Sweden) for UAV and defence electronics manufacturing in Lucknow
4. ₹4,000 crore by Rashmi Metallurgical Pvt. Ltd. for a 1 MTPA integrated steel plant
5. ₹1,250 crore by Arna Pharma (Australia) for biological pharmaceutical manufacturing

These investments are expected to strengthen the state’s manufacturing base across sectors such as mobility, defence, metals, and pharmaceuticals. They also contribute to supply chain development, technology transfer, and employment generation, particularly in skilled and semi-skilled roles.

Global Capability Centres and Services Ecosystem

Uttar Pradesh also highlighted its intent to expand its footprint in the Global Capability Centres (GCC) segment, supported by policy incentives, improving infrastructure, and a growing talent pool in cities such as Noida and Lucknow.

Key developments include the following:

1. Investment by SA Technologies Inc to establish a GCC focused on IT and digital services
2. Interest from global companies such as Uber in setting up capability centres and expanding their operational presence in the state

These developments indicate a gradual strengthening of the services ecosystem, with potential for increased employment in technology and business services, as well as higher participation in global service delivery networks.

Inclusive Growth and Expanding Investment Pipeline

A key aspect of Uttar Pradesh’s engagement at Davos was its focus on inclusive growth alongside long-term investment development. The state highlighted policy measures aimed at ensuring that economic progress translates into broader social benefits.

Key initiatives include:

1. A one per cent reduction in stamp duty for women
2. Programmes such as Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi

These measures are intended to increase women’s participation in economic activity and ensure that growth remains balanced and inclusive.

At the same time, the state focused on strengthening its future investment pipeline through extensive business-to-government (B2G) engagements. The delegation interacted with a wide range of global and Indian organisations, including BlackRock, Google Cloud, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Cisco, Indian Oil Corporation, NTPC, and others.

These discussions covered areas such as clean energy, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, and institutional investment and are expected to translate into future partnerships and investments.

The delegation also participated in thematic roundtables on clean mobility, energy storage, semiconductors, and electronics, reflecting its focus on emerging and future-ready sectors.

The Uttar Pradesh delegation held structured meetings and discussions with the following organisations, among others:

A Revolution Quietly Underway

Uttar Pradesh’s participation at Davos 2026 reflects a clear and structured approach to economic growth. The state presented itself as a large, policy-driven destination with focus areas spanning clean energy, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, and services.

With a population of over 240 million and a steadily expanding industrial base, Uttar Pradesh is strengthening its position as an investment destination within India.

The engagements at Davos—through investment agreements, policy presentations, and industry interactions—indicate a consistent direction: building sectoral capacity, improving infrastructure, and enabling growth that is both sustainable and inclusive.