Pune to host 6th Asia Economic Dialogue aimed at becoming ‘Davos of the East’

Pune: The 6th edition of the Asia Economic Dialogue (AED) is set to take place in Pune from Febr 20-22, focusing on the theme ‘Economic Resilience and Resurgence in an Era of Fragmentation'.
The conference has been jointly organised by the Union ministry of external affairs and the Pune International Centre (PIC).
The high-profile event will feature prominent govt officials, including commerce minister Piyush Goyal and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, alongside industry leaders such as Sanjiv Bajaj, Rajnish Kumar, and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
Representatives from nine countries will discuss crucial topics, including AI, cybersecurity, climate change, and the international monetary system, said Nitin Gadkari, PIC director.
Gautam Bambawale, former Indian Ambassador to China and convenor of AED 2025, envisioned the event as "the Eastern equivalent of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos".
Organisers told TOI that the dialogue aims to bring together policymakers, industry experts, and academicians to address global economic challenges and opportunities. Over the course of the three-day conference, numerous sessions will be held, featuring participants from a diverse range of countries, including Australia, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.
Bambawale said that since its inception in 2020, the AED has become a global platform focused on geo-economics. "We will explore how India can capitalise on the developments happening across the world. In this era of uncertainty, with Donal Trump in power in the US and two ongoing wars, the dialogue aims to understand what these dynamics mean for India. One major theme will be African transformation — how its 54 nations are emerging as significant markets for the world, and how India can benefit from this growth. Another key focus will be exploring how India can leverage the blue economy," said Bambawale.
The organisers, speaking with the media on Monday, also announced that some sessions will be streamed live. The conference will feature fireside chats on topics such as reimagining leadership in the age of AI and automation, the blue economy in India's extended neighbourhood, Africa's transformation from aid to investment, and the shift from survival to sustainability.
Pune: The 6th edition of the Asia Economic Dialogue (AED) is set to take place in Pune from Febr 20-22, focusing on the theme ‘Economic Resilience and Resurgence in an Era of Fragmentation'.
The conference has been jointly organised by the Union ministry of external affairs and the Pune International Centre (PIC).
The high-profile event will feature prominent govt officials, including commerce minister Piyush Goyal and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, alongside industry leaders such as Sanjiv Bajaj, Rajnish Kumar, and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
Representatives from nine countries will discuss crucial topics, including AI, cybersecurity, climate change, and the international monetary system, said Nitin Gadkari, PIC director.
Gautam Bambawale, former Indian Ambassador to China and convenor of AED 2025, envisioned the event as "the Eastern equivalent of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos".
Organisers told TOI that the dialogue aims to bring together policymakers, industry experts, and academicians to address global economic challenges and opportunities. Over the course of the three-day conference, numerous sessions will be held, featuring participants from a diverse range of countries, including Australia, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.
Bambawale said that since its inception in 2020, the AED has become a global platform focused on geo-economics. "We will explore how India can capitalise on the developments happening across the world. In this era of uncertainty, with Donal Trump in power in the US and two ongoing wars, the dialogue aims to understand what these dynamics mean for India. One major theme will be African transformation — how its 54 nations are emerging as significant markets for the world, and how India can benefit from this growth. Another key focus will be exploring how India can leverage the blue economy," said Bambawale.
The organisers, speaking with the media on Monday, also announced that some sessions will be streamed live. The conference will feature fireside chats on topics such as reimagining leadership in the age of AI and automation, the blue economy in India's extended neighbourhood, Africa's transformation from aid to investment, and the shift from survival to sustainability.