Madhya Pradesh Makes Strong Pitch for Global Investment on Day One at WEF Davos 2026
Bhopal | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | 2:55 PM IST
On the first day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, Madhya Pradesh marked a strong and confident presence on the global stage, positioning itself as a future-ready and reliable investment destination. The state government delegation engaged in high-level discussions with global companies and institutions across sectors including technology, renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), IT, agri-food, tourism, and industry.
The opening day of WEF Davos 2026 proved significant for Madhya Pradesh, opening new avenues for investment, innovation, collaboration, and global partnerships, aligned with sustainable development goals.
Discussions with Shiru on AI-Driven Protein Innovation
During WEF 2026, the Madhya Pradesh government held detailed discussions with Shiru, a global leader in AI-based protein innovation, to explore collaboration opportunities in the agri-food and life sciences sectors.
Raghvendra Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, interacted with Dr Jasmine Hume, Founder and CEO of Shiru. The discussions focused on AI-driven protein discovery and design, agriculture-based inputs, and applied research.
Shiru showcased its AI-enabled protein discovery platform that develops industry-ready, high-quality protein ingredients, with nearly 77% of its portfolio derived from natural proteins. The company highlighted its strengths in technology licensing, capital-efficient scalable production models, and a strong global business network spanning the European Union, Canada, Latin America, Asia (including Thailand), and India.
Potential applications of protein-based innovations in the food, cosmetics, and healthcare sectors were discussed. Dr Hume expressed keen interest in Madhya Pradesh’s strong agricultural ecosystem. Both sides agreed to explore collaboration with state universities and agricultural research institutions, identify crop-based protein inputs, and work towards joint ventures, pilot projects, applied research, and future production facilities in the state.
Follow-up meetings were agreed upon to advance commercial and research partnerships, marking an important step towards innovation-led investment in Madhya Pradesh.
Talks with Amara Raja Group on Renewable Energy Storage
In another key engagement, the Madhya Pradesh delegation held discussions with the Amara Raja Group on renewable energy integration and energy storage solutions.
The meeting was attended by Renewable Energy Minister Rakesh Shukla and Additional Chief Secretary Manu Shrivastava, who interacted with Jay Galla, Co-founder, Chairman and Managing Director of the Amara Raja Group.
Discussions centred on battery-based advanced storage solutions, renewable energy integration, and long-term clean energy strategies. The Amara Raja Group sought updates on energy storage projects in Madhya Pradesh, including the Morena battery storage project in northern Madhya Pradesh.
It was shared that the Morena project ensures power supply for two hours during evening peak demand and two hours during early morning hours. The state’s long-term vision of 24×7 renewable energy availability through integrated battery storage solutions was outlined.
Officials highlighted that all future renewable energy projects in the state will be planned with storage components, supported by Madhya Pradesh’s progressive renewable energy policy. The development of a pump storage policy, discussions with private developers, and evaluation of hybrid energy models such as hydro–solar and thermal–solar combinations were also discussed.
Both sides agreed to exchange detailed project data and maintain continued dialogue to explore collaboration in energy storage and advanced battery technologies.
The day’s engagements reflected Madhya Pradesh’s commitment to building a clean energy-driven, innovation-led, and sustainable economic ecosystem, reinforcing its global investment outreach at WEF Davos 2026.
