Davos, Switzerland | 19 January 2026
Heads of state and senior ministers from multiple BRICS member countries participated in the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, which commenced on 19 January 2026. They engaged in public dialogues and bilateral meetings focused on global economic governance and development.
The President of the People’s Republic of China, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and the President of the Republic of South Africa were listed as official speakers at the forum. They delivered addresses in various plenary and special sessions on topics including international trade, climate finance, and strategies for inclusive economic growth.
In his address, the President of China emphasized the role of major emerging economies in stabilizing the global economic landscape and called for strengthened multilateral cooperation. The President of South Africa highlighted the need for reformed global financial architecture to better serve developing nations.
On the sidelines of the main forum, BRICS delegations conducted numerous bilateral diplomatic meetings. The Indian delegation, led by senior officials, held consultations with counterparts from other member states to discuss the ongoing agenda for India’s BRICS presidency. These discussions covered areas of mutual interest such as supply chain resilience and digital infrastructure.
A spokesperson for the WEF noted that the strong participation from BRICS countries underscored the grouping’s active engagement in shaping global economic dialogue. The forum serves as a platform for exchanging policy perspectives and does not produce binding intergovernmental agreements.
The participation of these leaders and delegations formed part of their respective nations’ diplomatic and economic outreach at the start of the year, coinciding with the early phase of India’s BRICS presidency.
References:
- World Economic Forum. “Over 60 heads of state gathered at Davos 2026. Here’s what they had to say.” weforum.org, Jan. 2026, https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/heads-of-state-gathering-davos-2026-what-they-saying/.
- World Economic Forum. “Davos 2026: What to expect, who’s coming and how to follow.” weforum.org, Jan. 2026, https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/davos-2026-annual-meeting-what-to-expect/.
- Government of India, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. “World Economic Forum 2026 Engagements Strengthen Global Partnerships for India’s Renewable Energy Transition: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.” pib.gov.in, 25 Jan. 2026, https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2218503.
