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German companies are increasingly looking at India as a base for manufacturing, research and development (R&D), and innovation, moving
beyond their traditional focus on the country as a consumer market, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said during his visit to
Berlin.
“The CEOs echoed one message — German companies no longer see India only as a market, but as their partner, as a base for manufacturing, for research and development, for innovation,” Goyal said, according to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report published on October 24.
During his two-day visit, Goyal met senior executives from Siemens Healthineers, Bertelsmann Investments, Volkswagen and Škoda Auto to discuss investment opportunities, business partnerships and industrial cooperation between India and Germany.
According to the Commerce Ministry, the meetings explored ways to strengthen research partnerships between industry and academia. These areas could support the development of advanced manufacturing and industrial technologies.
However, no specific new research projects or funding commitments were announced following these discussions.
He said German businesses were looking to expand manufacturing in India to reduce costs and improve their competitiveness in global markets. According to Goyal's remarks reported by PTI, around 2,000 German companies currently operate in India. Their existing presence provides a foundation for potential expansion in manufacturing, engineering and technology development.
During separate meetings in Berlin, Goyal and German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche discussed industrial collaboration and the potential for the proposed India–European Union Free Trade Agreement to expand trade and investment.
While the discussions identified opportunities for deeper industrial and technology partnerships, no new factories, research centres or investment deals were confirmed.
Any expansion will depend on subsequent commercial decisions and formal commitments by the companies involved.
“The CEOs echoed one message — German companies no longer see India only as a market, but as their partner, as a base for manufacturing, for research and development, for innovation,” Goyal said, according to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report published on October 24.
During his two-day visit, Goyal met senior executives from Siemens Healthineers, Bertelsmann Investments, Volkswagen and Škoda Auto to discuss investment opportunities, business partnerships and industrial cooperation between India and Germany.
Focus on Advanced Manufacturing and Research
The discussions also covered potential collaboration with selected Fraunhofer Institutes, Germany’s applied-research network. Key areas included microelectronics, power electronics, logistics, smart manufacturing, industrial innovation and battery technologies.According to the Commerce Ministry, the meetings explored ways to strengthen research partnerships between industry and academia. These areas could support the development of advanced manufacturing and industrial technologies.
However, no specific new research projects or funding commitments were announced following these discussions.
India’s Role in Global Technology Operations
Goyal also highlighted the growing importance of global capability centres (GCCs), where multinational companies undertake activities such as engineering, product development and research.He said German businesses were looking to expand manufacturing in India to reduce costs and improve their competitiveness in global markets. According to Goyal's remarks reported by PTI, around 2,000 German companies currently operate in India. Their existing presence provides a foundation for potential expansion in manufacturing, engineering and technology development.
India–Germany Economic Cooperation
The visit comes amid broader efforts to strengthen economic ties between India and Germany through trade, investment and industrial cooperation.During separate meetings in Berlin, Goyal and German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche discussed industrial collaboration and the potential for the proposed India–European Union Free Trade Agreement to expand trade and investment.
While the discussions identified opportunities for deeper industrial and technology partnerships, no new factories, research centres or investment deals were confirmed.
Any expansion will depend on subsequent commercial decisions and formal commitments by the companies involved.
