Siemens Eyes India as One of Four Key Global Locations, CEO Says at Davos 2026
Siemens Digital Industries CEO Cedric Neike identified India as a potential key global location for the German technology conglomerate during the World Economic Forum in Davos. He praised India's infrastructure development over the past decade and highlighted the country's manufacturing transition as major growth drivers. Neike described India as a "zero-one country" where execution accelerates once direction is clear, with 2026 expected to be a strong year driven by rising consumer demand and increased manufacturing investment.
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Siemens AG's senior leadership has identified India as a potential key global hub, with the German technology conglomerate's Digital Industries CEO expressing strong optimism about the country's manufacturing trajectory during the World Economic Forum in Davos.
India Positioned as Strategic Global Location
Cedric Neike, CEO of Digital Industries and member of Siemens' managing board, stated that India has the potential to become one of four main places globally for the company. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum held between January 19-23, Neike highlighted India's robust infrastructure investment and growing manufacturing capabilities as key factors driving this assessment.
| Key Factors: | Details |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure Development: | Significant progress over the past decade |
| Manufacturing Transition: | Country moving from services to manufacturing focus |
| Investment Interest: | Large companies seeking competitive manufacturing facilities |
| Market Characteristics: | "Zero-one country" with accelerated execution once direction is clear |
Manufacturing and Infrastructure Growth Drivers
Neike characterized India as a "zero-one country," explaining that while execution can take time initially, it accelerates sharply once the direction is established. "For me, it's been a country where India does something, it takes time. But when it does, it does it really," he observed.
The executive emphasized that India has built substantial infrastructure over the last decade and is now transitioning into manufacturing. He noted significant interest from larger companies wanting to establish highly competitive manufacturing facilities in the country.
Market Outlook and Economic Recovery
Regarding future prospects, Neike indicated that rising consumer demand will drive investment to meet that demand, positioning 2026 as a potentially strong year. He identified the recovering economy and ongoing geopolitical changes around the globe as key growth drivers for the company's operations.
Localization Strategy Mitigates Trade Impact
Addressing concerns about potential tariff impacts on Siemens operations, Neike explained that the company's localized manufacturing approach provides protection. He referenced the trend toward regional manufacturing strategies, citing "Make in China, Make in India, Make America Great Again" as examples of this localization movement, noting that Siemens has not been significantly impacted due to this strategic positioning.
Global Leadership Gathering
The World Economic Forum brought together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including 400 top political leaders and 850 CEOs, providing a platform for discussions on global economic trends and strategic business positioning.
Historical Stock Returns for Siemens
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -3.52% | -4.44% | -8.45% | -8.94% | -6.62% | +241.15% |
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