This Article is From Jan 28, 2012

NDTV@Davos: Live updates from Vikram Chandra


Jan 28, 2012 22:59 (IST)
Jan 28, 2012 17:40 (IST)
NDTV debate at Davos: How Immune is India?

With Europe, Japan and the United States facing serious structural and societal challenges, will India remain the exception to the rule in the future of democratic capitalism? Join the debate here.
Jan 28, 2012 16:59 (IST)
"We are working on peaceful relations with India, including trade normalization. Manmohan Singh is a genuine person who wants peace.





Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani


I don't think there will ever be another military coup in Pakistan. The world shouldn't worry. But we need to strengthen institutions.




There are no problems in what we will tell to the courts. All institutions in Pakistan have become vibrant-- the media, civil society and the courts. But there will be no destabilisation."

Jan 28, 2012 16:33 (IST)
Got to run. The Pakistani Prime Minister has asked for a closed door meeting with some of us. Let's see what he has to say.
Jan 28, 2012 16:32 (IST)
OK, am now warming up for the big event. The NDTV debate at Davos. We are the only Indian TV channel to do a show inside the Conference centre as part of the WEF agenda. Tonight at 8 -- Is India Immune? Lots of big guests coming. Don't forget to watch.
Jan 28, 2012 16:32 (IST)
One of the highlights of Davos is being able to meet the most interesting of people whom you otherwise wouldn't. Just sat through a session on secrets of the universe addressed by R Heuer the director general of CERN. Fascinating discoveries about the universe are being made.



Such as an experiment that seemed to show neutrinos travelling faster than light. And also, this year, CERN hopes to confirm or reject the existence of the Higgs Boson.
Jan 27, 2012 15:36 (IST)
Jan 27, 2012 15:14 (IST)
Jan 26, 2012 16:22 (IST)

Special address now by British prime minister David Cameron. Saying that these are perilous times for the world and especially Europe.

 

 

British prime minister David Cameron

 

"While China grows at 8 percent, India at 7 percent and Africa at 5 percent, Europe is only growing at 0.6 percent", he said. Added that Britain wants more focus on business in Europe and all plans should see if they can kickstart growth. He wants an EU free trade agreement with India by the end of the year.

Jan 26, 2012 16:20 (IST)
One of those sessions that make Davos worth the effort-5 African prime ministers and presidents with Gordon Brown as a moderator! Interesting buzz around Africa.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Some feel that it may be the surprise star performer a decade or so from now. But massive problems too-corruption, infrastructure, education and health! Sounds familiar!
Jan 26, 2012 14:55 (IST)

The Big Question at Davos, though, is clearly the entire uncertainty around Europe. Will there be a Greek default, and if so, will it be orderly. And will the Euro survive?

 

 

 

German chancellor Angela Merkel

 

Angela Merkel made a speech yesterday where she pledged that Europe would survive but that reforms are needed. Cameron will be speaking in a couple of hours. 

 

Also read: Europe needs to create more jobs: Merkel

Jan 26, 2012 14:50 (IST)

Now watching a good session on Food Security with Bill Gates and others. They all seem to be saying that is a big step that countries like China and India are now working on doing something about Food Security.

 

 

By the way, it's quite remarkable how Bill Gates is now only called for sessions on these social issues. A man who was once an businessmen whom everyone loved to hate has reinvented himself as a saint. Will be interviewing Bill Gates tomorrow! Send me any questions you may have for him.

Jan 26, 2012 14:43 (IST)

Here is snow everywhere -- but when you are trekking up and down the streets, which is a key part of the whole Davos experience, what you really need to worry about is the ice. It's black and extremely slippery.

 

 

If you don't have snow boots or crampons then you are quite likely to go "slip sliding away". It's happened to me almost every year since I began coming to Davos in 2002. And I saw on TV that there is betting taking place on whether a top UK politician will take a tumble or not. The odds are 16:1, I believe.

Jan 26, 2012 14:19 (IST)

India has been so much a flavour of Davos in the past few years. There was the spectacular India Everywhere campaign in 2006 and then India Inclusive last year. This year the mood among the Indian contingent seems to be downbeat, almost depressed.

 

 

A top industrialist told me last night, "We are back to being on the sidelines. Back to watching the others take the limelight. Back to the bad old days. It's feeling as if the India story is over."

 

That may be an exaggeration, but clearly the bouyancy and the euphoria surrounding India has faded a bit. There is a sense that India is missing a great opportunity to shine, because of its internal problems and its inability to fully get its act together.

 

 

Also read: Some fun amid gloomy discussion at Davos

Jan 26, 2012 13:39 (IST)

China? China always gets attention. And this year countries like Indonesia and Brazil are attracting some attention. Especially the latter. It isn't surprising that Brazil is the host of this year's Grand Soiree -- the big bash that every World Economic Forum Summit at Davos ends with. India was the host in 2006 and 2011. This year - Brazil.

 


 

Jan 25, 2012 22:59 (IST)
Just landed in Zurich, now driving up to Davos. It is normally two hour drive - the first part through industrial landscape in and around Zurich. And then, after an hour, there is a magical moment as you emerge from a tunnel into a fairytale scene of snow covered pine trees and white everywhere.
Jan 25, 2012 22:58 (IST)

 

 

Complete coverage of World Economic Forum at

 

http://profit.ndtv.com/events/worldeconomicforum2012

 

 

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