The 58th Annual Regional Meeting of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) took place in Chennai on 22nd November 2024, at a time when India and Germany are witnessing a historic strengthening of their bilateral relationship.
The event began with introductory remarks by Mallikarjuna S., Regional Director, IGCC Chennai.
Welcoming the gathering, Ranjit Pratap, Chairman of the Southern Region Council, IGCC, highlighted Tamil Nadu’s leadership in supporting bilateral trade relationships with international investors, including those from Germany. He praised Michaela Küchler, Consul General of Germany in Chennai, as a key champion of Indo-German collaboration. Despite challenges in different parts of the world, he noted India’s resilience, reflected in its 8.2% GDP growth, and emphasized Germany’s status as a major European partner. Thanks to the automotive sector, which drives bilateral trade, the Indo-German trade relationship reached $33 billion in 2023. He added that significant investments are expected in the coming years, making this an exciting time for both nations. He also noted that many major German companies have chosen Chennai as their base, with Coimbatore emerging as a hub for skill training activities through the GD Weiler Institute.
Ute Brockmann, Deputy Director General of IGCC, delivered the special address, saying, “India is the place to be for German companies.” She highlighted the promising developments following meetings between German leaders and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. With India positioning itself as a resilient and dynamic nation in the Asia-Pacific region, German companies are increasingly showing interest in investing in the country in 2025. She also stressed the importance of workforce training in India and outlined IGCC’s support in providing dual vocational training programs that benefit both nations.
Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Honourable Minister for IT & Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu, served as the Chief Guest. He praised Germany’s exemplary contributions to training and skilling initiatives, as well as its consistent reputation for precision and quality in manufacturing.
S. Seetharaman, Chairman of Super Auto Forge, was a Guest of Honour and shared his experience with Germany. He described Germany as synonymous with “precision technology and reliability.” He noted the similarities between Indian and German MSMEs, many of which are family-owned enterprises. Super Auto Forge, which conducts €16 million in business with European companies, has gained significant expertise through services offered by senior consultants from Germany.
Michaela Küchler stated in her special address that the meeting was a testament to the outstanding partnership between South India and Germany. She called 2024 an extraordinary year for Indo-German relations, with India emerging as a key partner and future market for Germany in the Asia-Pacific region. As Germany’s largest trading partner in Europe, India benefits greatly from the contributions of Tamil Nadu’s MSMEs, which she described as the cornerstone of success. She also pointed to the increasing number of Schengen visas issued in 2024 compared to 2023 as evidence of the upward trend in trade and business relations. She assured that Germany would continue to offer comprehensive support and services to Indian visitors to further strengthen ties.
The event also featured a panel discussion on ‘Global Capability Centres (GCCs): The Challenges of Setting Up and the Future of GCCs.’ Eminent speakers on the panel included Krishnaswamy Jambunathan, VP & Head of Tech Center India and Executive Director, ZF India; Dr. Vikas Prasad, President & MD, Webasto India; and Madhuri Bajaj, Senior Manager, Ernst & Young. The discussion was moderated by Ute Brockmann.