Photo Credit: Facebook/Minister Piyush Goyal
India and the German state of Hessen have identified artificial intelligence, clean energy, research and development, data centres and advanced manufacturing among the sectors offering scope for deeper economic and technological cooperation.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met Hessen Minister-President Boris Rhein and Hessen Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Debureaucratisation Manfred Pentz in New Delhi on August 18, 2026. A delegation of leading German businesses also participated in the meeting.
The discussions covered possible collaboration in artificial intelligence, clean energy, research and development, data centres, global capability centres (GCCs), pharmaceuticals, chemicals, manufacturing, financial technology, deep technology and skill development.
Minister Goyal outlines discussions on X
In posts on X following the meeting, Minister Goyal described his discussions with Minister-President Rhein, Minister Pentz and the accompanying German business delegation as productive.
Minister Goyal said the two sides had explored new avenues for cooperation across AI, clean energy, R&D, data centres, GCCs, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, manufacturing, fintech, deep-tech and skilling.
Referring to the complementary strengths of India and Hessen, Minister Goyal said the two sides were looking to use opportunities arising from the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement to deepen partnerships in trade, technology, investment and innovation.
Photographs shared by Minister Goyal showed the Indian and German representatives holding discussions in New Delhi.
Hessen highlights opportunities under India–EU FTA
Minister-President Rhein described the India–EU trade agreement as an important opportunity for Hessen’s economy and called for a further expansion of trade and investment relations with India.
According to the Hessian State Chancellery, Minister-President Rhein said the agreement could improve market access for companies, facilitate investments and contribute to more resilient supply chains.
Hessen is one of Germany’s principal centres for finance, transport and digital infrastructure. Frankfurt, the state’s largest city, is a major European financial centre and an important location for data centres. The state also has significant capabilities in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, mechanical engineering, automotive components and other technology-intensive industries.
The Hessian government said more than half of Indian investment entering Germany currently goes to Hessen, underlining the state’s position as an important destination for Indian companies operating in Europe.
AI, clean energy and industrial cooperation in focus
The inclusion of AI, deep technology, data centres and GCCs in the discussions reflects the growing technology component of India–Germany economic relations.
India has been expanding its position as a location for research, engineering, digital operations and global business services. German companies, meanwhile, have been exploring partnerships in technology development, industrial digitalisation and advanced manufacturing.
Clean energy and manufacturing were also prominent in the meeting. These sectors are already part of India–Germany cooperation, which covers renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and industrial decarbonisation.
Pharmaceuticals and chemicals present another potential area of cooperation with Hessen’s industrial base. The German state has an established life-sciences and chemicals ecosystem, while India is a major producer of pharmaceutical and chemical products.
Skilled workforce partnership discussed
During the visit, Minister-President Rhein also met Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary.
The Hessen government proposed closer cooperation on skilled-worker mobility, including the digitalisation, standardisation and centralisation of procedures for recognising the qualifications of Indian professionals.
The proposal comes as Germany seeks trained workers across several technical and professional fields. India and Germany have also been working to improve pathways for education, vocational training and skilled migration.
Minister Pentz, who is leading Hessen’s five-day business delegation to India, said government-level engagement could help create access for companies and investors seeking new commercial partnerships.
The New Delhi meetings placed state-level engagement alongside the wider India–Germany economic partnership, linking Hessen’s strengths in finance, digital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and engineering with India’s technology, manufacturing and skilled-talent base.
