Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma arrived in Switzerland on January 19 to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, marking a significant moment for Assam’s international engagement. Upon landing at Zurich airport, he received a warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude, stating that the support from overseas Indians reinforced his commitment to showcase India and Assam’s developmental stories on the world stage.
In a post on social media, Sarma conveyed, “Deeply touched by the warm welcome extended by our Pravasi Bharatiya community at Zurich Airport. Their blessings and affection drive our effort to showcase the best of Bharat in the global arena under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” Soon after his arrival, he engaged with several national and international leaders, including Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, India’s Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.
Reflecting on his meeting with the Singaporean President, Sarma noted that the interaction was characterized by warmth and meaningful discussion. He commented, “Honoured to have met the President of Singapore, H.E. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in Zurich on the sidelines of the WEF 2026 Summit. His warm gesture and greetings for Bharat stirred a lively conversation.”
During the five-day Annual Meeting in Davos, Sarma is expected to represent Assam to global industrialists, economists, and leaders of multinational organizations, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He plans to highlight Assam’s governance reforms, industrial growth strategies, and technology-driven initiatives aimed at transforming the state’s economy.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu congratulated Sarma for being the first Chief Minister from Assam to attend the WEF Annual Meeting in Switzerland. In a social media post, Naidu expressed, “He has made history by becoming the first Chief Minister from Assam to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Switzerland. I congratulate him and wish him success.”
India’s delegation to this year’s WEF is robust, gathering under the theme “a spirit of dialogue.” The Indian contingent includes four Union ministers-Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi, and K. Rammohan Naidu-as well as six chief ministers: Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra, Naidu of Andhra Pradesh, Sarma of Assam, Mohan Yadav of Madhya Pradesh, A. Revanth Reddy of Telangana, and Hemant Soren of Jharkhand. Additionally, over 100 chief executive officers (CEOs) from India are present at Davos, enhancing the country’s efforts to engage with global stakeholders and investors.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/first-assam-cm-at-wef-sarma-reaches-switzerland-begins-global-outreach-1604849
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Publish Date: 2026-01-19 14:19:00
