Gazprom, Gap top Davos 'hall of shame': activists

Campaigners at the World Economic Forum on Thursday handed clothing giant Gap and Russian oil major Gazprom their annual Public Eye shame awards for what they said were lax factory safety standards and Arctic drilling.

If the million-dollar deals, schmoozing and champagne receptions begin to get a little stressful, the billionaire movers and shakers at Davos found a way to inner peace on Thursday with a session on meditation.

Friedman, also well known for his book 'The World is Flat, said that he remains "hugely optimistic about India".

India is looking to create as many as 100 million skilled jobs in the manufacturing sector by raising its share of grow domestic product, or GDP, to 25 per cent from 16 per cent, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said.

Foreign investors plan to expand presence in India and look forward to easier business climate as well as a sustained pace of reforms following general elections this year, according to a survey.

Executives in Davos said they remained committed to tapping into rising middle classes from Shanghai to Lagos, but some are pulling back and redeploying resources in particularly difficult, low-margin regions.

Business leaders from across the globe have called for policy changes to encourage long term value creation instead of short-term profits and to restore trust between government, business and civil society.

While the rich and famous from across the world have assembled here for their annual talk-fest and networking for business, many top Indian business leaders like Mukesh Ambani and Rahul Bajaj have given this year's WEF Annual Meeting a miss.

He said there is no need to ring alarm bells for the Indian economy as it was already growing at 5 per cent and the rate would improve further.

The billionaire said, the world was more concerned about governance issues of the country and "how do we move from a country where execution is a huge challenge to making execution the core of who we are."

Naina Lal Kidwai, country head of HSBC India speaks with NDTV's Shweta Rajpal Kohli exclusively on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, on the upcoming general elections and their impact on investments. More than foreign investors, India Inc is in the wait and watch mode for elections, she says.

While not many are willing to go on record with their take on 'India's newest political phenomenon' - Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party -- and its potential impact on the upcoming general elections, almost every foreign leader is quizzing their Indian counterparts about these issues.

Hopeful of launching flights in India in next 2-3 months, Air Asia chief Tony Fernandes says that the airline would introduce 'dramatically' low fares in the country,

Hopeful of launching flights in India in next 2-3 months, Air Asia chief Tony Fernandes says the airline would introduce 'dramatically' low fares in the country.

Kotak Mahindra executive vice-chairman and prominent India Inc leader, Uday Kotak in an exclusive conversation with NDTV's Vikram Chandra on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos said the Aam Aadmi Party is not really a factor for the global audience and there is less negative perspective about India at the summit this year.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe compared current tensions between Japan and China to rivalry between Britain and Germany on the eve of World War One

Australia on Wednesday rejected claims by a group of asylum seekers that they were beaten and suffered burns while being returned to Indonesia by the Australian navy under a policy that has strained ties between the countries.

Mr Sharma is among a large delegation of ministers as well as business leaders from India who are attending the WorldEconomic Forum annual meeting in this Swiss ski resort town.

Around 90 per cent of enterprises across the world are doing business the right way and trust in businesses is showing an year-on-year improvement, PepsiCo chairperson and chief executive Indra Nooyi said here on Wednesday.

AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes on Wednesday said the airline's low-cost venture in India is expected to start operations by April.