WGS chooses India as guest of honour for sixth session

Sharjah / WAM

The World Government Summit (WGS) has announced that the Republic of India is the guest of honour for its summit, scheduled for February 11-13, 2018.
The World Government Summit said that the hosting of India comes as part of the its endeavor to strengthen its partnerships with countries with pioneering and distinctive experiences in strategic areas that serve communities. The summit is the largest movement to review and share the best experiences, and the first global forum for governments, countries, organisations and private sector leaders interested in the industry of the future.
The Indian delegation will review the best experiences and latest technologies developed by India in areas like space exploration, where a rapidly growing space programme has been developed in parallel with the programmes of the United States, Russia and the European Union. The latest achievements were the launch of the largest space rocket developed
entirely in India In June.
The UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, and Chairman of the World Government Summit, Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, confirms that hosting the Republic of India as an honorary guest of the Annual Gathering aligns with the summit’s mission to strengthen its partnerships with countries that encompass pioneering experiences in strategic areas that serve the betterment of communities. Such partnerships strengthen the summit’s status as the largest organisation to highlight exceptional experiences and be the first global forum for governments, states, organisations and the private sector, to address the future of government and societies.
Al Gergawi said that the presence of the government of the Republic of India, with its high-level delegation, is a key part of the summit’s annual gathering and a continuation of the distinguished relationship between the UAE and the Republic of India. Al Gergawi emphasises the historical relations between the UAE and the Republic of India as one of the leading trading partners, based on a solid foundation of mutual respect and a long history of common interests across various sectors.
He emphasised that the World Government Summit focuses on hosting guest countries with exceptional experiences, worthy of being global models to follow. India carries such a model, especially in terms of the economic and social changes witnessed over the last few years. Today the Republic of India stands as the world’s fourth fastest growing economy with an
annual GDP growth rate averaged at 6.12 percent
between 1951 and 2017.
The Indian delegation will bring the latest technologies developed by India, covering space exploration and technological advancements, while the Indian private sector will participate with pilot experiences through interactive sessions and dialogues.
Today, India boasts a growing self-made space program, with achievements bringing its space market at par with that of the USA, Russia, and the European Space Agency. The latest achievement being the first successful launch of India’s heaviest, most powerful rocket, developed entirely in India, in June of this year. Some of the world’s leading company CEO’s hail from the Republic of India, having graduated from top Indian graduate schools. It is also important to highlight that 8 percent of the founders of high-tech companies and 1/3 of technology startups in Silicon Valley are from the Republic of India.
India is the second largest UAE trade partner after China, with trade between the two countries amounting to $60 billion per year. In addition, the two countries enjoy cooperative relations spanning advanced educational institutions in the UAE and scientific research institutions in India across the fields
of renewable energy,
sustainable development, agriculture and space
science, as well as satellite
development and launching.
At its fifth session in February 2017, the World Summit of Governments attracted more than 4,000 participants from 139 countries and 150 speakers attended 114 sessions. Participants included VIPs and experts from the public and private sectors around the world, as well as heads of state, royalty, ministers, CEO’s, innovators, entrepreneurs, academics and university students from the top universities in the world. The summit was held from February 12 to 14 in Dubai.

For 2018, honorary guests from India will join the notable list of speakers synonymous with the World Government Summit to showcase the country’s emerging economic growth, highlight valuable knowledge, skills, and capabilities and elaborate on the
country’s unique culture.