Inaugural Message by H.E. Dr Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany to India and Bhutan

The German Asia-Pacific Business Association – OAV organized a Meeting of the Indian Committee on 14th March, 2024 at the Forum, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg.  

Since its foundation in 1900, the OAV has been working for its members as a business association with a lot of experience, commitment and best contacts.

• Promotes the development of economic relations with the dynamically growing Asia-Pacific region
• Supports German companies in their Asian activities
• Provides its members with independent information and assessments of trends and potentials, and
• Offers know-how to the industrialised countries, the dynamically growing developing and emerging countries, but also to the less developed markets in the region

The moderator for the evening Event was the Chairman Prof. Dr. Clas Neumann – Chairman of the India Country Committee, OAV – German Asia-Pacific Business Association, Hamburg. He welcomed all the guests and gave the opening positive remarks to all the guests present.

1. Dr Philipp Ackermann – Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in India
2. Stefan Halusa – Director General, Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, India

Dr Ackermann threw light on the current ‘political mood’ of India with the upcoming General Elections from 19 April 2024 to 1 June 2024 to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The elections will be held in seven phases and the results will be announced on 4 June 2024. This will be the largest-ever election in the world, surpassing the 2019 Indian general election, and will be the longest-held general elections in India with a total span of 44 days. He fondly spoke about the positive chances of the Modi government to win again.  

He explained that the Indian voters continue to see Modi as a popular nationalist leader who has accelerated growth and improved foreign ties. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has cut a confident figure in the past and in recent times. India’s economy is now the fifth-largest in the world, from the tenth-largest when Modi first took office a decade ago, and the fastest expanding among major nations were some of the reasons for a forcible win for the ‘Hinduism’ lead government. 

Stefan Halusa backed up Dr Ackermann’s promising overview of the Modi Government with some vital trade statistics. He iterated that, in India’s current political landscape, the consensus among political analysts is that a win for Modi and the BJP is the most plausible outcome.He spoke about the Import/Export quarterly trade figures and how they are on a constant, however gradual rise. He mentioned that the German business houses should tap the ever growing ‘purchasing power’ of the ‘mighty’  middle class. 

After a few interesting questions over the Q&A round the moderator and the guest speakers concluded with a ‘Alle ampeln auf Grün !’ for India.