Davos: India took a major breakthrough by setting up the ‘Global Alliance for Gender Equality and Equality for Global Good’ to advance women empowerment and gender equality at the World Economic Forum’s 54th Annual Meeting in Davos on Thursday.
The announcement was made in the presence of Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.
Union Minister of India Smriti Irani Hardeep Puri was also present as she met prominent Indian industrialists at a dinner hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The Alliance will bring together global best practices, knowledge sharing and investment in the areas of women’s education, health and entrepreneurship.
It has gained support from global companies such as MasterCard and Microsoft, as well as many domestic industry leaders.
Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, lauded India’s participation in Davos 2024 and spoke about the country’s success in achieving seven percent annual growth.
Schwab said India’s history is a success story and that development goes hand in hand with India. “If you look at India, I think development goes hand in hand with India. If you look at the support we’ve given to make India a domestic powerhouse, it’s incredible. The success rate is 7 percent. We don’t always imagine what that means. Because if you’re at 7 percent, you’re doubling your economy every 10 years, and if it takes 20 years, you’re quadrupling your GDP.”
He said this shows that India will see phenomenal economic growth and “will become an economic powerhouse,” “but we need to maintain and focus on equality and inclusiveness.”
The WEF Founder then thanked the forum’s Indian partners, saying, “I would like to especially thank our Indian partners. You have been a very strong driving force and exemplary in terms of engagement.”
“I want to thank the government because having such a strong delegation coming just a few weeks before the elections means that the government is also making a very strong effort. And finally, I want to thank the CII because for over 40 years it has been not just a partnership but a friendship,” he said.
Union Minister Smriti Irani in her address thanked the World Economic Forum for its kind, polite yet very strong support to Indian industry.
She said: “I am proud to have been able to bring together the best of industry, business and humanity in a grand alliance today, with money moving and politics being talked about in the streets. Those who spoke out for gender and those who supported economic and social justice for gender were met with much opposition.”
“But as Indians today, we are proud that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not only delivered a consistent 7% growth rate even in the aftermath of the pandemic, not only has he managed to contain inflation that was in double digits a decade ago, but that we Indians have provided food security to 800 million people, delivered 200 billion doses of vaccines, and delivered medicine shows to 160 countries where 945 million Indians will be eligible to vote this year to form the government of not only the world’s largest but also the world’s oldest democracy,” she said.
The Union Minister said the alliance aims to propel India towards a greater future and ensure that no one is left behind.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his 10 years in power, has put talented women at the centre of development,” Minister Smriti Irani told ANI.
She added that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development slogan is in line with ‘Protect all, bless all’, the alliance announced today represents ‘blessing all’.
“Over the two days, CII, Invest India and participating businessmen announced that an Indian woman leader was coming to Davos for the first time and that people inspired by Prime Minister Modi’s inclusive growth plans could come forward to invest,” she said, adding that over 10,000 companies had expressed interest.
“The World Economic Forum has been held in Davos for the last 50 years, with top business leaders from around the world participating. This year, leaders from around 300 countries participated. Economic powerhouses come here to find new business opportunities in Davos. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, we can attract investments in digital infrastructure,” she told ANI.
Irani also said people’s attention is shifting towards biofuels and India has already announced the world’s largest hydrogen project to attract investors.
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