Is the World Really Moving Beyond China? WEF MD Kiva Allgood Explains

At WEF Davos 2026, the global manufacturing debate has moved far beyond cost and convenience. Post-COVID and amid shifting US policies, the idea of “China Plus One” is evolving into a deeper rethink of supply chains. Today, companies making billion-dollar factory bets are prioritising reliability, long-term policy confidence and proximity to local markets over pure cost arbitrage. Manufacturing is becoming more specialised, less volume-driven and increasingly aligned with domestic consumption. From semiconductors to biomanufacturing, production-for-one markets are emerging. For India, this shift opens a strategic window. With strong engineering talent, digital public infrastructure and scalable SMEs, India has the chance to position itself not just as an alternative, but as a future-ready manufacturing hub in a fractured global order.

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