Dhaval Desai

Vice President and Senior Fellow | Observer Research Foundation Mumbai , India
Dhaval Desai

Biography

Dhaval is Vice President and Senior Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, Mumbai. His spectrum of work covers diverse topics ranging from urban renewal to paradiplomacy. He currently contributes to urban studies and heads administrative functions at ORF Mumbai.

Sessions

16:15h
Thematic Roundtable | SMART CITY EXPO

India as a Global Urban Power: Geopolitics, Digitalization, and Smart Cities

Dhaval Desai
Dhaval Desai Observer Research Foundation Vice President and Senior Fellow Speaker
Elena Gómez Castro
Elena Gómez Castro Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Ambassador at Large for the Indo-Pacific Speaker
Maria Galindo Garcia-Delgado
Maria Galindo Garcia-Delgado Generalitat de Catalunya Secretary for Digital Policies Speaker
Nandan Dawda
Nandan Dawda Observer Research Foundation Fellow Speaker
Pau Solanilla
Pau Solanilla Harmon Corporate Affairs Partner Moderator

#City Diplomacy, #Global Cities, #Urban Global Agendas, #Urban Tech

2025-11-05 16:15 2025-11-05 17:00 Europe/Madrid India as a Global Urban Power: Geopolitics, Digitalization, and Smart Cities

India is not only a key player in the new global order but also an emerging leader in sustainable, digital, and scalable urban solutions. This session will explore how urban transformation has become a tool of soft power and strategic projection, positioning India as a strong partner for European countries in areas such as AI, water management, sustainable mobility, and digital governance. A high-level panel will discuss how Spain and India can strengthen their ties through cities as platforms for diplomacy, technology, and development.

Main Stage
Wed 5 16:15h - 17:00h Main Stage Visitor Pass not allowed
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