Thungchibemo N Ezung, 24 years old from Nagaland has been selected to participate in the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026 by the World Economic Forum to be held at Dalian, People’s Republic of China, from 23–25 June 2026.
Thung Ezung, a multi-passionate founder and youth leader from Nagaland, India, has been invited to participate in the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2026 organised by the World Economic Forum in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, from 23–25 June 2026.
Thung will attend as part of the Global Shapers Community which is an initiative of the World Economic Forum, youth delegation, where 60 youth representatives from across the world have been selected to advance youth perspectives in conversations shaping the future of innovation, entrepreneurship, healthcare, sustainability, and economic transformation. Among them, Thung is also one of only seven youth delegates representing South Asia. Known globally as the “Summer Davos” the Annual Meeting of the New Champions is one of the World Economic Forum’s flagship gatherings focused on entrepreneurship, frontier technologies, innovation, and next-generation growth. Since 2007, the platform has convened leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society to explore solutions to some of the world’s most pressing economic and technological challenges.
The 2026 meeting will be held under the theme “Innovating at Scale” bringing together over 1,500 global leaders and innovators at a time of major geo-economic shifts, rapid technological disruption, climate pressures, and changing labour markets. Discussions will focus on how innovation can translate into real economic opportunity, job creation, and shared prosperity across emerging and advanced economies. The Forum’s programme will centre around critical global questions, including the future of economic growth, the role of China in shaping global industries, the real-world impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, youth employment and workforce transformation, and aligning climate and energy systems for sustainable competitiveness.
A founder working at the intersection of health, heritage, and innovation, Thung is the Founder and Director of Wealth Track Health Services Private Limited, a pre-seed funded startup advancing health equity through accessible and culturally sensitive healthcare solutions in Northeast India. The startup recently emerged as a winner of the Open Challenge by Software Technology Parks of India, an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
Alongside his work in health-tech, Thung has also led Pipo Jewellery and the Nagaland Handmade Jewellery Exhibition since 2016, promoting indigenous craftsmanship, cultural storytelling, and sustainable livelihoods through handmade jewellery and artisan-led initiatives. His work was recognised in the UNDP India Northeast Coffee Table Book Stories of Change, which highlighted changemakers driving social impact across the region.
Speaking on the invitation, Thung shared, “It is an incredible honour to represent Nagaland, Northeast India, and South Asia at a global platform like the Annual Meeting of the New Champions. I believe communities at the grassroots hold valuable perspectives on resilience, innovation, culture, and sustainable development, and I hope to contribute those voices to global conversations shaping the future.” Thung’s participation reflects the growing representation of youth leaders from Northeast India in international dialogue spaces and highlights the importance of locally rooted innovation in addressing global challenges.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Thung actively contributes to youth-led community initiatives through the Global Shapers Community Kohima Hub, where he currently serves as Curator. Through the hub, he has contributed to projects and conversations focused on youth leadership, education, sustainability, and grassroots community engagement in Nagaland.
