Davos, Switzerland – January 21, 2026: Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, met with IBM CEO Arvind Krishna and Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, at the World Economic Forum. Their conversations focused on India’s growing influence in the global tech sector.
In a recent post on X, Vaishnaw shared, “The world looks at Bharat as a key driver of global innovation,” highlighting his meetings with the two tech leaders.
The discussions also touched on the safety of social media users, particularly regarding risks posed by deepfakes and AI-generated content. Meta informed Vaishnaw about its ongoing efforts to enhance user security.
Additionally, collaboration with IBM is set to boost India’s capabilities in advanced chip technology, specifically in producing 7 nm and 2 nm chips, and will contribute to nurturing the country’s semiconductor talent pool.
Vaishnaw previously stated that India is actively building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem, earning recognition as a dependable partner within the global supply chain. In another post, he emphasized the development covering design, fabrication, and other aspects crucial to semiconductors.
He also noted that Google is significantly enhancing its commitment to India’s AI sector, planning a $15 billion AI data center in Visakhapatnam and fostering partnerships with local startups.
Furthermore, Vaishnaw mentioned that 46 projects in component manufacturing and electronics have established the sector as an important part of India’s economy, providing 2.5 million jobs. Some factories employ thousands of workers, with a few even housing up to 40,000 employees.
The Indian government is making significant strides in the semiconductor industry, recognizing chips as vital to healthcare, transportation, communication, defense, space, and digital infrastructure. The increasing demand for semiconductor chips globally is prompting the government to support local manufacturing through initiatives like the Semicon India Programme.
In a recent announcement, Google revealed plans for a major investment of $15 billion over five years to create a large-scale AI hub in Visakhapatnam, marking a significant development as the company’s largest AI center outside the United States.
The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place from January 19 to 23, 2026, in Davos-Klosters, featuring nearly 3,000 participants from over 130 countries, including numerous world leaders, CEOs, and innovators, all under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue.”
