Jharkhand will position itself as India’s emerging hub for critical minerals at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, marking the state’s first participation at the global summit led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The CM will also visit the United Kingdom following the Davos meet to deepen international partnerships. According to an official statement, the Soren-led delegation will present Jharkhand’s legacy as one of India’s most resource-rich mining regions and highlight its role in powering the clean-energy economy. The state sits on the ancient Singhbhum geological belt and holds vast reserves of iron ore, copper, coal, bauxite, uranium, limestone and other strategic minerals vital for renewable energy, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and defence. Jharkhand’s mineral base has historically supported landmark industrial institutions such as Tata Steel in Jamshedpur — India’s first integrated steel plant — along with major public sector enterprises including SAIL, Hindustan Copper and Uranium Corporation of India. The government said this legacy is now being reshaped to support global demand for critical minerals used in solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, hydrogen technologies and electric vehicles. As India seeks to reduce strategic dependencies and strengthen supply chains, Jharkhand is shifting from raw mineral extraction towards processing, refining and downstream manufacturing. At Davos, the state will present its development model themed “Growth in Harmony with Nature”, emphasising responsible mining, advanced processing technologies, environmental safeguards and community-centred governance. The delegation will hold policy dialogues and investment meetings at the India Pavilion, followed by targeted engagements in the UK to promote opportunities in mineral exploration, green steel, battery materials, advanced alloys and clean-energy supply chains. These efforts aim to attract long-term investment and technology collaborations to drive sustainable industrial growth. The government said Jharkhand’s participation comes as the state marks 25 years of statehood and charts a roadmap towards 2050, positioning its mineral wealth as central to both India’s energy security and the global clean-energy transition. A Critical Minerals Centre has also recently been launched at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad under the National Critical Minerals Mission. Following the Davos meet (18–24 January), Hemant Soren will deliver a special lecture at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, becoming the first Indian Chief Minister to address the institution.