Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday, 23 October held a series of high-level meetings with top German business leaders in Berlin, underlining the vast opportunities available for German companies to invest, manufacture and innovate in India. The minister framed the engagements as part of a broader push to cement a powerful India-EU economic partnership anchored in trust, competitiveness and complementary strengths.

Key Meetings with German Industry Leaders

Goyal met Stefan Oelrich, President of the Pharmaceuticals Division at Bayer, to discuss the company's expansion plans in India and potential deepening of its engagement in the country's healthcare ecosystem through greater investment, innovation and collaboration. 'Discussed Bayer's expansion plans in India and opportunities to deepen its engagement in our robust healthcare ecosystem through greater investment, innovation and collaboration,' Goyal stated.

He also held discussions with Michael Sen, CEO of Fresenius Group, focusing on collaboration in healthcare — leveraging India's rapidly expanding sector, growing demand for quality and affordable medical solutions, and strong manufacturing capabilities. Goyal said he 'explored how the company can harness our skilled talent and world-class production capabilities to serve both domestic and global markets.'

In a separate meeting, the minister engaged with Murat Akyildiz, Global General Partner at Knauf Group, discussing the group's expanding manufacturing footprint in India and avenues for collaboration across sustainable construction materials and infrastructure development, aligned with India's ongoing urban transformation.

India Centre Inauguration at DGAP

Earlier in the day, Goyal spoke at the inauguration of the India Centre of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin, alongside Katherina Reiche, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. He described the Centre as a reflection of growing India-Germany ties and a shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation.

Notably, the minister also cited the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a key catalyst that could add further momentum to the partnership. 'Our complementary strengths provide a strong foundation for achieving our ambitious economic goals, with the India-EU FTA poised to add further momentum to this partnership,' Goyal said.

Business Leaders Roundtable at ESMT Berlin

Goyal participated in a Business Leaders Roundtable hosted by ESMT Berlin, where he interacted with multiple CEOs and senior business executives. He called for building resilient global value chains and urged businesses and investors from both nations to explore avenues for collaboration that advance mutual prosperity.

What This Signals for India-Germany Trade

The Berlin engagements come as India actively courts European capital and technology partnerships, particularly in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable infrastructure. Germany, as Europe's largest economy, represents a significant untapped reservoir of investment for India's manufacturing ambitions under initiatives such as Make in India. This is the latest in a series of high-profile outreach missions by Indian trade ministers to key European capitals in 2026, signalling New Delhi's intent to diversify its economic alliances ahead of a potential India-EU FTA conclusion. The India-Germany trade relationship is expected to gain further depth as both governments align on supply chain resilience and green transition goals.