Information about the partnership
India’s economic development offers diverse opportunities for German companies. In particular, German SMEs looking for business partners and aiming to build strong business networks can benefit from the growing Indo-German cooperation landscape. India’s development and the growing demand for modern technologies create an attractive environment for international business cooperation. Partnering in Business with Germany supports German SMEs in entering the Indian market by connecting them with executives from various industries seeking international expansion.
Focus Areas and Cooperation Potentials of India
Since mid-2023, India has been the world’s most populous nation. Forecasts suggest that India’s economic output will surpass that of Germany and Japan by the end of this decade. Following years of increasing infrastructure spending, experts are now registering growing investments in cement production and the steel industry. Construction machinery manufacturers and the automotive sector are experiencing a rise in demand.
India is one of the world’s largest food producers and can feed its population almost without food imports. This opens up considerable potential for cooperation on modern equipment and digital solutions for the agricultural sector.
Business in India – Opportunities for German Companies
As the country diversifies its foreign trade, more and more German companies are looking to do business with India. Important aspects here include the country’s western-oriented legal system, competitive wages and especially its sizable market. The young, consumption-oriented population, the modernization of infrastructure, and the shift in global supply chains are making the country increasingly attractive. Additionally, local companies show strong interest in international business partnerships and knowledge transfer.
Agriculture is a central pillar of the Indian economy. Accordingly, there is high demand for robust, user-friendly smart farming technologies. Significant potential is also emerging in the energy sector. India is increasingly focusing on expanding renewable energy to make its energy mix greener, support decarbonization efforts, and promote long-term sustainability. In addition, the production of green hydrogen is set to be expanded.
Industry Focus and Participant Profiles
Partnering in Business with Germany is open to executives from all sectors. Most of the Indian participants in the programme come from family-owned Indian companies, mainly from the manufacturing sector. Key manufacturing sectors include mechanical and plant engineering, electronics, the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Many executives are looking for opportunities to sell their own products in Germany, others are interested in new technologies. The Indian government has been funding environmentally friendly and energy-efficient industries in recent years. The number of executives working in the circular economy and energy efficiency sector is growing.
The Indo-German Business Development Association (IGBDA) is providing opportunities for dialogue between former programme participants. Annual networking events and a wide range of smaller regional and virtual workshops for alumni help develop closer contacts with the German business community.
Indo-German partnership strengthens Industry 4.0 in India
An Indo-German cooperation project aims to boost digitalisation in Indian companies. By using software from the Hessian startup Framence, companies can replicate their plants online. Some Indian companies are already implementing their projects, which shows the high demand for digitalisation in the rapidly growing Indian economy.
News
Digitalisation, efficient energy solutions and hydrogen technologies are paving the way for the future - Networking boosts Indo-German business relations
At the end of March 2025, during a major networking event organised by Partnering in Business with Germany in Mumbai, 80 Indian business leaders actively explored new opportunities for long-term economic cooperation. To discuss this topic, they met with representatives from India’s foremost business associations – the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) – as well as delegates from the German Embassy, the German Consulate General, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the well-established German business community.
A further deepening of economic relations with India
India has been an important partner country for the implementation of the external economic policy instrument Partnering in Business with Germany since 2009. This is stressed by the Joint Declaration of Intent signed by the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck and the Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of India Piyush Goyal in New Delhi on 24 October 2024.
Indo-German partnership strengthens Industry 4.0 in India
An Indo-German cooperation project aims to boost digitalisation in Indian companies. By using software from the Hessian startup Framence, companies can replicate their plants online. Some Indian companies are already implementing their projects, which shows the high demand for digitalisation in the rapidly growing Indian economy.
Partnering in Business with Germany supports companies promoting circular economy
A circular economy is becoming increasingly important globally and the need for technologies and solutions for a closed-loop circular model is increasing – using resources more efficiently, questioning consumption and recycling resources. Having this in mind, the industry group Circular Economy from India visited German companies during the BMWK program Partnering in Business with Germany to exchange ideas on a circular economy.
Networking event in India: A look into the future
Almost 100 alumni and other representatives from politics and business accepted the invitation of the Indo-German Manager Training Programme to the networking event “Forming Long-term Partnerships” on 21 and 22 July 2023 in Bangalore, India. The focus was on the opportunity to connect with German institutions in India, such as AHK Bengaluru, VDMA India and also the Fraunhofer Institute from Bengaluru.
