WEF 2023: Andhra's loss is Telangana's gain

Amaravati: Questions have been raised after Andhra Pradesh failed to attend World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 event at Davos, Switzerland.

This comes despite WEF inviting the AP government in November 2022. Significantly, Telangana Industries & IT Minister KTR set up a pavilion in a bid to attract investments at World Economic Forum. The 53rd edition of the WEF began on January 16. It will conclude on January 20. The WEF, which has around 3,000 attending every year, is a global platform where states/leaders from all over the globe come together to address global problems.

The states get the opportunity to set up a pavilion to attract investors. The theme of this year's WEF is 'Cooperation in a Fragmented World'.

WEF 2023 is attended by four union ministers, the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, Maharashtra's deputy chief minister, Tamil Nadu's Industries minister, and Telangana's IT.

Telangana shines in WEF 2023

Telangana is taking the state to another level. They have set up a pavilion attracting investments. IT Minister KTR will meet the heads of the world's leading organizations and participate in the group discussions organized by WEF.

Telangana is among the top influencers for WEF 2023 on Day 3. Jim Harris, a Disruptive Innovation Speaker on his Twitter, posted the list, which includes popular names like Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate, and Indigenous youth climate advocate from Ecuador Helena Gualinga. While IT ministry’s handle is ranked 15th, IT Minister's personal Twitter handle is ranked 27th.

World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR Telangana), the only center in India focusing on healthcare and life sciences, will be established in Hyderabad. WEF Managing Director Jeremy Jurgens and Telangana Life Sciences Foundation Chief Executive Officer Shakthi Nagappan signed the collaboration agreement. The 4IR Network, which covers four continents, now has C4IR Telangana as its 18th center. Telangana will now become an important node in the global network of 4IR centers.

WEF 2022:

During the WEF 2021, the Andhra delegation signed investment MOUs worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore with multinational companies and industrial bigwigs, including Adani, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, and Green Co CEO. During the public session titled 'Future-proofing Health Systems,' Jagan highlighted how the state government's Robust System aided in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. He spoke on how the State has efficiently cut down the mortality rate, one of the lowest in India.

What does the ruling dispensation say?

Minister for IT and Industries Gudivada Amarnath stated that the representatives from Andhra Pradesh could not attend the WEF 2023, as the state has been making arrangements for the Global Tech Summit, scheduled to be conducted in Visakhapatnam on March 3 and 4. He said they had invited the delegates attending WEF for the Tech Summit to showcase the opportunities in Andhra Pradesh.

"Andhra's GSDP is 11.43%, which is better than the national average. Exports from the State this year to date are valued at Rs 1.5 lakh crore. By October 31, 2022, exports from Andhra Pradesh stood at Rs 97,000 crore, whereas it was only Rs 55,000 crore from Telangana," said the IT Minister.

What does opposition say?

TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh tweeted that Chandrababu Naidu visited Davos nine times for investment. Jagan is showing no interest in showcasing Andhra Pradesh's potential for jobs

TDP chief and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited Davos nine times between 1999 and 2004 and four times between 2014 and 2019 after the bifurcation. Meanwhile, Jagan attended only one time for WEF in 2022.