India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is set to embark on an official visit to Berlin on October 23, aimed at deepening trade, investment, and technology partnerships between India and Germany. The visit holds special significance as both countries mark 25 years of the India–Germany Strategic Partnership this year.
Deepening Bilateral Economic Ties
During his stay in Berlin, Minister Goyal will hold a series of high-level meetings with top German officials and industry leaders to strengthen the Indo-German economic relationship. He is scheduled to meet Katherina Reiche, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Dr Levin Holle, Economic and Financial Policy Advisor at the Federal Chancellery and G7/G20 Sherpa.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the discussions will focus on enhancing trade and investment cooperation, promoting sustainable growth, and exploring new opportunities for industrial collaboration. The visit underscores India’s growing economic engagement with Germany — its largest trading partner in Europe and one of its most trusted technology allies.
Technology, Innovation and Business Collaboration in Focus
Goyal’s visit will also include participation in the third edition of the Berlin Global Dialogue (BGD), where he will speak at a high-profile session titled “Growing Together – Trade and Alliances in a Changing World.” The dialogue brings together global policymakers, economists, and business leaders to discuss strategies for inclusive and sustainable global growth.
Beyond diplomatic meetings, Goyal’s agenda has a strong focus on technology and innovation. He will hold one-to-one interactions with CEOs of leading German companies, including Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Infineon Technologies AG, Schaeffler Group, Enertrag SE, and Herrenknecht AG. These meetings aim to encourage German investment in India’s high-technology, clean energy, and mobility sectors, while also strengthening bilateral cooperation in advanced manufacturing and R&D.
Strengthening Partnerships with German Industry
Minister Goyal will also lead a roundtable with representatives of the German Mittelstand — small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of Germany’s industrial economy. He is expected to engage with key business associations such as the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and the Asia-Pacific Association of German Business (APA).
“These interactions will provide a platform to explore synergies, facilitate investments, and promote stronger business-to-business linkages, particularly in sectors aligned with sustainability, innovation, and advanced manufacturing,” the Commerce Ministry said in an official statement.
Renewing the Strategic Partnership at 25 Years
India and Germany established their Strategic Partnership in 2000, and since then have expanded cooperation across sectors including climate action, green energy, digitalization, and education. Goyal’s visit comes as the two countries reaffirm their commitment to a resilient and technology-driven global economy.
The visit also aligns with India’s broader goal of strengthening its ties with the European Union. Germany, as the EU’s largest economy, plays a pivotal role in advancing the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement, a key priority for New Delhi.
Looking Ahead
Observers expect the Berlin visit to pave the way for deeper industrial and technological collaboration, new joint ventures, and greater participation by German companies in India’s manufacturing and clean-energy initiatives.
While no formal announcements have been made yet, possible areas of cooperation include semiconductors, green hydrogen, automotive innovation, renewable energy, and AI-driven industrial processes — areas where Germany’s engineering expertise and India’s growing innovation ecosystem can create powerful synergies.
As India seeks to position itself as a global manufacturing and technology hub, Minister Goyal’s visit signals a strong political and economic message: that the India–Germany partnership is poised for the next phase of strategic and technological growth.
