Vibrant Gujarat 2024: German Ambassador Applauds India’s Global Imprint

India is emerging as a hub of international business and trade, said the German ambassador Philipp Ackermann. He was sharing his impressions at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit on Wednesday.

Ackermann emphasised that today's summit is a testimony to the fact that India's place in the world is undergoing rapid change and underlined the fact that the country has become a key player in global affairs and serves as the engine of the world’s economic growth.

Sharing his thoughts on the German-Indo partnership the ambassador said Germany has collaborated with India not only for this Vibrant summit but looks forward to the country’s growth and Gujarat's future economic success.

He said Germany is India's top trading partner in Europe at over EUR 30 billion a year.

“Under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership, Germany has budgeted a billion euros per year for cooperation projects with India in promoting urban mobility, renewable energies and environmental protection,” Ackermann added.

Moreover, he valued the ongoing discussions between the EU and India on free trade (FTA), investment protection and geographical indicators. He said these negotiations are a crucial opportunity for both sides to deepen convergence. "I am confident that the newly formed Federation of European Business in India (FEBI) will play a key role in steering those talks toward success."

Shifting his focus to the journey ahead, Ackermann said “Germany and India are particularly well-placed to build supply chains which are weatherproof for the future. This year 2024 will add further vigour to forging partnerships between the two countries.”

Among the highlights of next year will be the Asia Pacific Conference of German Business which will be held in Delhi in the autumn. This is a biannual event that brings together top-level executives and political leaders from Germany and all across Asia. It will be an outstanding opportunity to showcase the strength of the Indo-German strategic partnership, to bring new investment to India to drive forward the technology and innovation agenda, he concluded.