German companies are increasingly viewing India as a strategic base for manufacturing, research and development (R&D), and innovation, in addition to its role as a major consumer market, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said.
Speaking after a two-day visit to Germany, Goyal said he held bilateral meetings with representatives of Siemens Healthcare, Bertelsmann Investment, Volkswagen and Skoda to explore opportunities for greater investment and industrial cooperation.
According to the minister, German companies are looking to combine their expertise in precision engineering and research with India’s skilled workforce and manufacturing capabilities. He said the focus of the visit was to expand investment, strengthen industrial cooperation and develop research partnerships between the two countries.
Goyal noted that India’s more than 2,100 global capability centres (GCCs) employ millions of people and support the research, design and innovation activities of multinational companies. He added that several German companies were planning to expand their Indian operations significantly over the next two to five years, with some aiming to double or triple their presence.
The minister also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in co-designing, co-developing and co-manufacturing products. He invited German research institutions to expand their engagement with India and explore joint innovation opportunities.
On the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Goyal said its success would be measured by increased business, new orders, greater investment and technology partnerships. India and the EU concluded negotiations on the agreement in January 2026.
Goyal also discussed climate cooperation between India and Europe, including green hydrogen and clean energy initiatives. He reiterated India’s concerns over the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), while acknowledging Europe’s progress on environmental issues and the potential for closer cooperation in sustainable technologies.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Manufacturing Tales staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
