Kochi to host WEF India chapter meet

Kochi will host the 29th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (India chapter) on November 8 and 9.

Announcing this at a press conference here, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, accompanied by officials of the World Economic Forum Susanth Rao and Rachael Lang and his economic advisor Shafi Mather, said this was the second occasion that the annual meet of the forum’s India chapter was being held outside Delhi.

He said it was a matter of prestige for Kerala to play host to such an international event, which would bring over 250 delegations. He said 96 chief executive officers along with several regional heads of multinational corporations would attend the meet.

In addition, world renowned industry leaders, heads of NGOs, and young global leaders would attend the meet. The first meeting of the WEF in India was held in 1984.

Mr. Chandy recalled his visit to Davos in 2006 to attend the world summit. He said he had been a regular participant in the India summit since 2005, a practice which he continued even while he was in the Opposition.

Mr. Rao explained the context of the Kochi summit, which basically aimed at shaping the national economic agenda. Kerala had already created a positive trend in the global mindset of investors.