Düsseldorf : At a time when global dynamics are shifting and the India-Germany partnership is gaining new momentum, Düsseldorf (Capital of the state of North-Rhine Westfalen) has taken a strategic leap by officially inaugurating the Indien-Kompetenzzentrum Düsseldorf (IKD). The centre is a joint initiative by the City of Düsseldorf, the IHK Düsseldorf, and Messe Düsseldorf, and aims to deepen business, cultural, and people-to-people engagement with India.
Speaking at the launch event, Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller highlighted Düsseldorf’s growing relationship with India, noting that “over 40 Indian companies are already present in our city.” Drawing on Düsseldorf’s successful experiences with Japanese and Chinese companies, the Mayor positioned the city as “an innovation hub open to Indian communities and investments,” underlining the goal of becoming a long-term, attractive destination for Indian talent and enterprise.
A key component of this vision is skilled migration. Dr. Keller referred to the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian state of Karnataka, “focused on attracting skilled professionals.” He emphasized that “India is central to our strategy and we have streamlined decision-making and fostered a welcoming culture. With more than 40 Indian firms and 7,000 Indians already living in Düsseldorf, the city is actively involved in celebrating Indian festivals such as Ganesha Chaturthi and Diwali as part of its local rhythm.”
Wolfram Diener, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, pointed to India’s dual economic strength in manufacturing and services. “India is booming. From machinery to IT outsourcing – we see strong participation from Indian exhibitors across trade fairs,” he said. At DRUPA, India sent nearly 10,000 visitors; the GMTN (metals) and MEDICA (world’s largest medical trade fair) fairs also recorded significant Indian presence. Messe Düsseldorf, Diener added, is “strongly advocating for more flexible visa policies to enable easier visitor participation.”
Responding to how India is being perceived currently, Diener was candid: “It’s not an easy time geopolitically. But India stands out – while exports to China dropped, exports to India are rising significantly. India’s growth trajectory is impressive, and its domestic consumption is surging.”
Andreas Schmitz, President of IHK Düsseldorf, addressed structural advantages and future potential. “We’re at the heart of Europe, economically robust and export-oriented. German multinationals like Henkel offer a strong consumer base.”Schmitz stressed that Indian IT and software services “SAP is an export bestseller from India” align well with local demand. He also underlined the importance of finalizing the EU-India Free Trade Agreement, calling it “a long-overdue catalyst that would boost trade in both directions.”
A highlight of the inauguration was the keynote by B. S. Mubarak, Consul General of India in Frankfurt, who emphasized India’s remarkable transformation in recent years and the importance of bilateral economic alignment. “India is not just a growing market- it is a rising economic power that is becoming more central to global supply chains and value creation,” he noted.
He pointed to India’s expanding digital infrastructure, startup culture, and skilled workforce as key assets in forging deeper cooperation with Germany. “We are witnessing a significant diversification of our export basket and global economic footprint. In that, partnerships like the one with Düsseldorf – rooted in innovation and mutual trust – are essential,” he said.
The Consul General also appreciated Düsseldorf’s proactive steps to attract Indian talent and its cultural openness. He expressed confidence that the IKD would serve not only as a platform for trade and investment but also as a catalyst for “cross-cultural understanding and long-term collaboration.”
With the launch of IKD, Düsseldorf has not just opened a centre- it has sent a clear signal of intent to engage with India more strategically, structurally, and sustainably.
Sunanda Rao Erdem is the Co-Founder of Thedialog.net and Founder & CEO of Seraphim Communications, a strategic PR firm focused on the Indo-German space. Previously, she was Managing Director at Munich-headquartered CNC Communications.
