Leading India’s delegation at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, senior minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday highlighted the country’s openness to partnerships across the economic spectrum and its strong resilience amid global debt concerns.

In an interview, Vaishnaw said India has sent a clear message about its economic transformation over the past 11 years and invited global partners to engage with the country’s growth story. "India's message here is very clear on how the prime minister has transformed and opened the Indian economy. This time’s message is: partner with India and subscribe to the future," he said.

The minister emphasized India’s readiness to collaborate across sectors including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and green energy. "We want to partner with the world everywhere," he added, noting that the country is also open to new ideas and innovation from global players.

Vaishnaw highlighted the participation of ten Indian states at Davos, calling it an example of cooperative and competitive federalism promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "All states are working hard and when states develop, the country automatically develops. The experience Prime Minister Modi has had at the state level is benefiting the entire country now," he said.

On concerns over rising debt levels in developed nations, Vaishnaw said India’s debt position remains relatively low. While the central government’s debt stands at 57 per cent of GDP, the total including all states reaches 84-85 per cent, which is much lower than developed countries where debt levels range from 120 to over 250 per cent.

He noted that India has deliberately kept its foreign currency debt, particularly dollar debt, low to enhance economic resilience. "By keeping dollar or foreign currency debt low, the resilience of the Indian economy grows. This is a conscious effort to de-risk India from this risk," he said, adding that these measures ensure the country is better insulated from global financial shocks.