Ahmedabad

Senior German industry leaders have reiterated the depth and resilience of India–Germany ties, pointing to strong mutual trust, shared democratic principles and growing opportunities for cooperation in areas such as innovation, aerospace, defence, manufacturing and sustainable mobility.

Airbus CEO Michael Schoellhorn described India and Germany as “natural partners” in the current global environment, stating that the relationship between the two countries is built on a solid foundation of trust and common values. He identified future-facing sectors including innovation, aerospace and defence as key avenues for expanding bilateral collaboration.

Dr Ralf Wintergerst, Chief Executive Officer of Giesecke+Devrient, echoed these views, saying that the combination of German engineering excellence with India’s scale and skilled talent pool could lead to globally impactful solutions. He added that this complementary strength places the partnership on a strong footing for long-term growth.

Susanne Renate Kunschert, Director at PILZ India Private Limited, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a source of inspiration for her, noting that his leadership has laid a robust foundation for India’s continued progress and success.

Bertram Kawlath, a leading German entrepreneur and President of the VDMA — Europe’s largest mechanical engineering industry association — praised Prime Minister Modi for his clear assessment of the immense potential of Indo-German cooperation. He said closer collaboration between German machinery manufacturers and Indian equipment makers could unlock significant growth in the global equipment market.

Arnd Franz, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of the MAHLE Group, a major global automotive supplier, highlighted India’s rapid advances in sustainable mobility, observing that the country is moving faster than many large economies in this space.

He pointed to India’s practical and diversified approach to the green transition, particularly the swift adoption of E20 fuel blends and biofuels. Franz said India’s use of multiple pathways — including ethanol, hydrogen and electrification — offers a balanced and realistic template for global decarbonisation.

Franz also expressed confidence in India’s potential to emerge as a major exporter of automobiles and auto components, describing the country as an increasingly important player in the global economy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz interacted with chief executives from both nations at the India–Germany CEOs Forum held in Ahmedabad.

Bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Germany stood at USD 51.23 billion in 2024–25, with Germany remaining India’s largest trading partner within the European Union.

Germany accounts for nearly one-fourth of India’s total trade with the EU, underlining its position as India’s leading European trading partner. Trade in services between the two countries grew by 12.5 per cent in FY 2024–25 to reach a record USD 16.65 billion.

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Germany is also India’s ninth-largest source of foreign direct investment, with cumulative FDI inflows of USD 15.40 billion from April 2000 to June 2025. During FY 2024–25 alone, German investments in India amounted to USD 469 million.