SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi / Davos, January 19: On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, leading the Government of Jharkhand delegation, held a high-level meeting with the senior leadership of Tata Steel, reinforcing Jharkhand’s position as a hub for sustainable and future-ready industrial investment.
During the meeting, Tata Steel reaffirmed its commitment to invest ₹11,000 crore in Jharkhand under New Age Green Steel Technology, formalised through a Letter of Intent and Cooperation Agreement. The proposed investment includes ₹7,000 crore for HIsarna-based Easy Melt technology, ₹1,500 crore for a Combi Mill project, and ₹2,600 crore for Tinplate expansion. All projects will deploy advanced, environment-friendly green steel technologies, drawing on innovations from the Netherlands and Germany.
The Chief Minister underscored that Jharkhand’s industrial policy is firmly anchored in sustainability, clean technology adoption, and local employment generation. He said the Tata Steel partnership will not only strengthen the State’s industrial ecosystem but also position Jharkhand as a national leader in green industrial transformation, aligned with India’s climate and energy transition goals.
In related engagements, Hitachi presented proposals for investment in power and high-level grid infrastructure, while Tech Mahindra outlined plans for advanced IT and digital facilities in the State.
CM Honoured by WEF; Sweden Signals Investment Interest
Chief Minister Hemant Soren was honoured with a White Badge by the World Economic Forum, marking the formalisation of cooperation through a Letter of Collaboration. The partnership aligns with WEF’s Centres of Excellence on Critical Minerals and New Energy, Climate Action and Biodiversity, and Just Energy Transition. Jharkhand’s Vision 2050 was noted for its alignment with WEF’s inclusive and sustainable development framework, opening avenues for long-term knowledge exchange and operational partnerships.
Building on the Jharkhand government’s official visit to Sweden last year, Swedish stakeholders have expressed interest in urban transport investments. A Sweden–India Roundtable is proposed in April to further explore collaboration and investment opportunities. During Davos, the Chief Minister also met Swedish companies that had engaged with Jharkhand during the earlier visit.
Focus on Women’s Political Leadership
Representatives of the World Women Leaders Forum conveyed interest in partnering with the Government of Jharkhand to strengthen women’s political leadership, particularly among women from marginalised communities. Discussions included proposals for establishing an India Chapter and a non-partisan platform of women representatives across political parties, aimed at dialogue, capacity-building, and leadership development.
The meetings were attended by T.V. Narendran, MD & CEO, Tata Steel; Cecilia Oldne, Chief India Representative, Sweden India Business Council; Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President, Women Political Leaders Forum; Viraj Mehta, World Economic Forum; Bharat Kaushal, Regional Head, Hitachi; and Sahil Dhawan, Head & President, IMEA Division, Tech Mahindra.
