India’s role and priorities debated at Davos

Will India meet global expectations? This is what was debated in a large televised room packed with serious corporate players yesterday (so this is where they are). Lots of talk about India’s role as regional power and growth rates, but then finally a brave panellist suggests that the number one priority has to be for India to develop its people. The moderator completely ignored this and went back to growth rates.

This is frustrating given India really could stop its children going hungry and dying from preventable causes – with enough determination.  Bangladesh, a poorer country has made faster progress on cutting child mortality rates.

The G20 is confirmed as the critical new global grouping. I do hope development doesn’t get left as solely the domain of G8.  There is good news here though – Canadian PM Harper announces the agenda for next G8 will focus on maternal and child mortality.

In the space of the next hour the UK election campaign hit town. The Tory top team are out in force and then Mandelson and team stopped by.  The Duke of York’s reception attracted them all, and even the bankers make an appearance.

I finally found a corner in a corridor to prep with panel members for our breakfast event, squeeze in an interview for Swiss TV, then another Haiti event. Klaus Schwab explains how they completely redid the agenda last minute after the earthquake struck – no kidding.

*This blog is also published on FT.com