Piyush Goyal Holds High-Level Talks in Berlin to Boost India–Germany Trade and Investment

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal held a series of high-level engagements in Berlin on October 22 to strengthen India–Germany trade, investment and industrial cooperation. The engagements included a bilateral meeting with German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche, the joint inauguration of the India Centre at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), an India–Germany Business Roundtable and participation in the Berlin Global Dialogue.

India–Germany Talks Focus on Industrial Collaboration and FTA Opportunities

During the bilateral meeting, Goyal and Reiche discussed opportunities to deepen industrial collaboration and the potential of the proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to expand bilateral trade and investment. The two Ministers also jointly inaugurated DGAP’s India Centre in Berlin, which aims to promote policy research and dialogue on India–Germany relations, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Business Roundtable Explores New Trade and Investment Opportunities

Goyal and Reiche co-chaired an India–Germany Business Roundtable organised in collaboration with DGAP and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA). The event brought together German CEOs and business leaders to explore opportunities for strengthening economic and industrial ties.

In their keynote addresses, Goyal spoke about accelerating growth and forging a new era of trade, while Reiche focused on translating the FTA into industrial reality. The subsequent interaction centred on turning the prospective India–EU FTA into concrete trade and investment opportunities.

Goyal Highlights Trust and Resilient Supply Chains at Berlin Global Dialogue

At the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal participated in a panel discussion titled “New Era, New Alliances: The Third Path?” alongside Martin Blessing, Personal Representative of the German Chancellor for Investment; Dr. Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology; and Emma Marcegaglia, Chairwoman and CEO of Marcegaglia Steel. The session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Lars-Hendrik Röller.

During the discussion, Goyal highlighted the importance of trust, complementary economic strengths and resilient supply chains in building international partnerships.

Meetings with Industry Leaders to Explore Business Cooperation

Goyal also held separate meetings with Stefan Oelrich, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG and President of its Pharmaceuticals Division; Murat Akyildiz, Managing Partner of Knauf Group; and Michael Sen, CEO of Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA. The discussions focused on exploring opportunities for business and investment cooperation.

Goyal is accompanied on his visit to Germany and the Netherlands by a delegation of around 100 Indian businesses and startups. The Berlin engagements are part of ongoing efforts to deepen the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, particularly in trade, investment, technology and industrial cooperation.

-PIB Inputs