Davos/Ranchi: Jharkhand will make its maiden appearance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting to be held in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 25, marking a significant moment for the mineral-rich eastern state as it seeks to reposition itself on the global stage by blending ancient heritage with a forward-looking development agenda.

Led by chief minister Hemant Soren, the state’s delegation will present Jharkhand as a destination for sustainable investment, critical minerals and inclusive growth, while also showcasing its unique “living megalithic tradition” — stone monuments that are not archaeological relics but continue to be part of everyday social and cultural life among tribal communities.

Unlike megalithic sites elsewhere in the world that belong firmly to the past, Jharkhand’s stone memorials, found across regions such as Chokahatu in Ranchi district and parts of Hazaribagh, are still erected and ritually used, reflecting an unbroken cultural continuum. The state plans to use this narrative at Davos to underline its core message of growth in harmony with nature.Beyond culture, Jharkhand’s pitch will focus sharply on its economic strengths.

Home to some of India’s richest reserves of iron ore, copper, bauxite and other critical minerals, the state aims to attract global partnerships in responsible mining, downstream processing and value-added manufacturing aligned with the clean energy transition.

Women-led development will be another key highlight, with the delegation expected to flag Jharkhand’s extensive self-help group network and women-centric livelihood programmes that have helped lakhs of rural women move towards sustainable incomes, positioning inclusion as a core pillar of the state’s growth model.

For a state often defined by its industrial past, the Davos debut signals a strategic attempt to recast Jharkhand as a modern investment destination rooted in sustainability, social equity and one of the world’s oldest living cultural traditions.

BI Bureau