On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed a string of world leaders at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi as policymakers and technology figures converged for the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The gathering, part of a summit running from February 16 to 20, aims to position India at the center of global cooperation on artificial intelligence, innovation and digital transformation.
Among visiting dignitaries received by the prime minister were Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Estonian President Alar Karis. Modi also greeted Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Seychelles Vice‑President Sebastien Pillay, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.
Representatives of major global institutions joined the summit, including United Nations Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Vice‑presidents from Guyana and Bolivia, Bharrat Jagdeo and Edmand Lara Montano respectively, were also in attendance.
The high‑level welcomes underscored New Delhi’s push to lead multilateral discussions on AI-driven solutions for economic growth, sustainable development and technology partnerships. Delegates are expected to deliberate on practical, policy and partnership frameworks to harness artificial intelligence responsibly.
The summit, organized around the pillars “People, Planet and Progress,” is the first global AI gathering hosted in the Global South and has drawn unprecedented participation: more than 20 heads of state, 60 ministers and roughly 500 global AI leaders. Organizers say the event will focus on translating global AI deliberations into actionable development outcomes under the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India initiative.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to formally inaugurate the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on Thursday, February 19, at Bharat Mandapam. He will take part in the opening ceremony at approximately 9:40 a.m., which will include an address by French President Emmanuel Macron. Modi is also slated to hold bilateral meetings with several visiting world leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/pm-modi-welcomes-world-leaders-at-bharat-mandapam-for-india-ai-impact-summit-13981359.html
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Publish Date: 2026-02-18 21:36:00
