Davos 2026: Key Commitments and Concrete Results (Resume). JAN 29, 2026

Davos, SwitzerlandPublished on February 8, 2020, DJI, Mavic Pro Free use under the Unsplash License by Damian Markutt

Davos 2026: Key Commitments and Concrete Results (Resume).

The 56th World Economic Forum, held from January 19–23, 2026, in Davos, Switzerland, once again brought together governments, business leaders, representatives of civil society, and global experts to discuss concerted solutions to the economic, technological, social, and environmental challenges of the present and the future.

1. Thematic Structure and Global Dialogue

Under the official theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” the meeting focused discussions on five major strategic issues—how to cooperate in a more contested world, drive growth, invest in people, implement responsible innovation, and build prosperity within planetary boundaries—with an explicit focus on consensus building and cross-sectoral cooperation.

Alongside the Forum, reports were released—including the Global Risks Report 2026, prepared by the organization itself—that identify the main global risks and guide debates and the formulation of collaborative policies to mitigate them.

2. Projections and Consensus on Artificial Intelligence and the Economy

In official sessions, influential voices in the global economy highlighted that artificial intelligence (AI) can play a transformative role in production chains and trade:

According to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), if AI adoption is relatively equitable across different regions, it could increase global trade by up to 40% by 2040 — a projection based on inter-institutional analyses presented during the event.

This type of projection, based on comparable data, was cited as an analytical and forward-looking commitment — not just a discursive one — to guide public policies, investments, and multi-sectoral partnerships.

3. Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) Finalized

The official Davos 2026 program was marked by the signing of several MoUs and memoranda of understanding between state governments, companies, and investors, focusing on economic development, technology, clean energy, and infrastructure. Here are some of the key agreements confirmed:

🇮🇳 India — Maharashtra and other regions

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) signed 12 Memoranda of Understanding worth approximately US$104.65 billion, involving logistics projects, industrial hubs, technology centers, and partnerships with groups such as Brookfield and RMZ, with the potential to create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The Maharashtra government announced commitments in MoUs equivalent to approximately ₹30 lakh crore (thirty lakh crore rupees), with about 83% of these agreements representing foreign direct investment proposals, according to the state's chief executive.

🇮🇳 Other Indian states

The State of Telangana signed MoUs worth approximately ₹30,000 crore, including significant industrial investments focused on manufacturing and the green economy.

The Telangana government also signed specific MoUs to develop a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center and agreements with AI technology companies, with investments planned for the medium term.

The state of Uttar Pradesh secured several investment MoUs in the renewable energy, manufacturing, and sustainable technology sectors, with commitments estimated at over ₹12,000 crore, in addition to development pacts in clean energy and digital infrastructure.

Some specific partnerships in Uttar Pradesh also involved smart technologies and urban infrastructure systems, such as the agreement with DPIFS Solutions for intelligent traffic management projects using AI, estimated at around ₹3,800 crore.

These memoranda, signed within the framework of the Forum, represent formal cooperation commitments between regional governments and private companies, with clear implications for investment and development projects.

4. Expansion of Networks for Technology and Innovation

The World Economic Forum announced the expansion of its global network of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) with the creation of five new centers in countries such as France, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and India.

These centers will be part of a collaborative framework dedicated to promoting public policies and pilot projects in key areas such as AI innovation, energy transition, cyber resilience, and frontier technologies, with the direct involvement of governments, the private sector, and international experts.

5. Guiding Reports Published

Before and during the meeting, the World Economic Forum published reports widely used by delegates and leaders to shape action plans:

The Global Risks Report 2026 brought together analyses from more than a thousand experts to map emerging threats—such as geopolitical shocks, rapid technological change, and environmental challenges—and suggest priorities for international cooperation.

This report serves as a documentary reference for the central themes of the event, supporting debates with data and projections.

📌 Summary

Davos 2026 was not a meeting of simple diagnoses: it produced concrete actions, signed memoranda, and commitments made, especially involving substantial economic investments, expansion of technological networks, and analytical projections supported by global institutions to guide public policies and international cooperation.

✔ Signing of dozens of MoUs with commitments to public and private investments in sectors such as technology, clean energy, and infrastructure.

✔ Growth projections — including the potential for an increase of up to 40% in global trade by 2040 with equitable adoption of AI.

✔ Expansion of global innovation centers focused on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

✔ Reports and studies published to support decisions of leaders and policymakers.

Main sources:

56th World Economic Forum – event, themes and context — Wikipedia. Economic Projections and AI at the Forum — WEF Stories.

Memoranda of Understanding and Concrete Investments — Times of India, IBEF, News On Air, among others.

Expansion of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network — WEF press release.

Global Risks Report 2026 — WEF.