CNBC-TV18 hosted the Delhi edition of ‘Gateway to India: Leadership Corridor’ on October 14, bringing together government representatives, business leaders, entrepreneurs and sportspersons to discuss India’s economic growth and global competitiveness.

According to a CNBC-TV18 press release, the forum was held under the theme ‘Where the World Meets India’s Next Growth Story’. The discussions covered artificial intelligence (AI), global investment, maritime strategy, renewable energy, power infrastructure, sustainability and sports.

Speaking about the initiative, CNBC-TV18 Managing Editor Shereen Bhan said the forum aimed to bring Indian and global industry leaders together to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping India’s future growth.

At the session ‘The Business of AI Readiness’, Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins said India offers strong long-term growth opportunities for the company in manufacturing, engineering and semiconductor design.

He added that Cisco is expanding its manufacturing operations in India, with a growing share of its output being exported to global markets. The company also plans to strengthen its engineering capabilities and digital skills development in the country.

During the session ‘India and the New Global Investment Map’, McKinsey & Company Asia Chairman Gautam Kumra highlighted the importance of speed, supply chain resilience and technology for businesses.

He said technology has become a key priority for senior business leaders amid changing global conditions.

The session ‘The Power Imperative: Security. Reliability. Sustainability’ featured Tata Power CEO and Managing Director Dr. Praveer Sinha and GE Vernova T&D India Managing Director and CEO Sandeep Zanzaria.

Zanzaria said India’s ongoing energy transition and the growth of sectors such as AI and green hydrogen are creating long-term opportunities for power generation and transmission companies.

He also stressed the need for digital technology to manage increasingly complex transmission networks.

Sinha said India’s power demand typically grows by around 5-6 percent annually, even without the additional impact of AI and electric vehicle (EV) charging.

From May to September 2026, demand growth reached nearly 9-10 percent. He said this increase creates opportunities across power generation, transmission, distribution and electrical equipment manufacturing.

Other sessions focused on maritime strategy, trade and sustainability. In a fireside chat titled ‘Sovereign at Sea: Building India’s Trade and Strategic Power’, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi (Retd.), former Chief of Naval Staff and Chairman of the National Maritime Foundation, discussed India’s maritime and strategic priorities.

The session ‘The Next Made-in-India Green Wave’ featured Anish Malpani, founder of Without; Saket Dave, founder and CEO of Wastelink; and Rishabh Patel, founder and CEO of Dump In Bin. They discussed sustainability initiatives and circular economy solutions.

The forum also recognised Indian sportspersons during the session ‘A Nation of Champions’.

Indian women’s hockey players Savita Punia and Navneet Kaur, along with sprinter, Olympian and Arjuna Awardee M.R. Poovamma, were felicitated for their contributions to Indian sport.