QI Group Founder and Executive Chairman Vijay Eswaran joined global leaders as a panellist at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC) 2026 in Dalian, China, where discussions centred on innovation, entrepreneurship and the future of economic growth.
Speaking on the panel The Next Billion Jobs, Vijay shared his perspective on how businesses, governments and educators can work together to create meaningful opportunities in an era being reshaped by artificial intelligence, demographic shifts and rapid technological change.
Known as “Summer Davos”, the AMNC is the Forum’s flagship gathering for entrepreneurship, innovation and next-generation growth. Held under the theme Innovating at Scale, the 2026 meeting brought together global leaders from business, government, academia, civil society and international organisations to explore how innovation can be translated into stronger economies, new enterprises and productive employment.
Representing QI Group at this year’s meeting were Vijay Eswaran, Founder and Executive Chairman; Umayal Eswaran, Chairperson of RYTHM Foundation; Cathy Zhou, Director of Finance & Planning; Ramya Chandrasekaran, Group Chief Communications Officer; and Nicholas Goh, Chief Operating Officer of Quest International University.
Creating Opportunities in a Changing World of Work
The panel The Next Billion Jobs examined one of the defining questions facing economies today: how countries can create meaningful and productive employment as millions of young people enter labour markets each year, particularly in emerging and developing economies.
During the discussion, Vijay highlighted that while AI is transforming industries at unprecedented speed, the jobs challenge will also require continuous reskilling, stronger entrepreneurial mindsets and the development of human capabilities that technology cannot replace.
He also spoke about the opportunity to bridge generational divides in the workforce. Younger generations bring energy, ambition and adaptability, while older generations carry decades of experience, knowledge and perspective. Creating stronger connections between the two can unlock value for individuals, organisations and economies.
For Vijay, the future of employment is not simply about preparing people to fill existing jobs. It is also about equipping them with the confidence, creativity and resilience to create opportunities for themselves and others.
Watch the full panel discussion, The Next Billion Jobs, on the World Economic Forum website here.
From Innovation to Inclusive Growth
Across the meeting, leaders explored how innovation can move beyond technological progress to deliver broader economic and social impact. Discussions focussed on areas including artificial intelligence, industrial transformation, entrepreneurship, energy transition, education and workforce development.
The Forum’s closing message called for innovation to be scaled in ways that support growth, competitiveness, jobs and wider opportunity. This aligns closely with QI Group’s long-standing focus on entrepreneurship, education, social impact and sustainable development.
QI Group’s participation at the AMNC 2026 reflects its continued commitment to engaging in global conversations that shape the future economy.
Through its work across business, education and community impact, the Group continues to support ideas and partnerships that help turn innovation into opportunity.
