How is Piyush Goyal Strengthening Economic Ties with Germany?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Piyush Goyal engages with Germany’s Johann Wadephul to enhance economic ties.
- Focus on boosting bilateral trade and investment.
- Collaboration in innovation, sustainability, and technology.
- India seeks to finalize the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU.
- Germany is a major economic partner with significant FDI in India.
New Delhi, Sep 3 (NationPress) Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal engaged in discussions with Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul on enhancing economic ties between the two nations, in light of the shifting dynamics in global trade resulting from the significant increase in US tariffs.
“I had a fruitful meeting with Mr. Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Germany. Our talks centered around amplifying bilateral trade and investment relations, while identifying new opportunities for cooperation in innovation, sustainability, technology, and other mutually beneficial fields for collective growth and prosperity,” stated the Union Minister in a post on X.
Goyal also mentioned that he co-chaired a session with business delegations from India and Germany alongside Johann Wadephul.
“We deliberated on enhancing trade facilitation, regulatory frameworks, and market accessibility. Additionally, we examined collaboration opportunities in Defence, space, innovation, and automobiles, highlighting the enormous prospects of our partnership,” Goyal added.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar remarked that India and Germany are committed to doubling bilateral trade, considering the significant and transformative changes in the global strategic environment.
He also expressed a desire for negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union to reach a definitive conclusion soon.
India-EU bilateral trade has seen remarkable growth over the last decade, achieving a record high of approximately $33.4 billion in 2024, he noted.
In a press conference with the visiting German Foreign Minister, EAM Jaishankar conveyed that earlier, Wadephul had expressed confidence about “doubling our trade” with India.
“Let me assure him that India fully shares this sentiment. We anticipate collaborating closely with the German government towards this goal. I want to emphasize our ongoing commitment to enhancing the Ease of Doing Business in India. I assured the minister today that any concerns German firms may have regarding establishing operations in India will receive special attention,” EAM Jaishankar emphasized.
Wadephul affirmed that India is a vital economic trading ally for Germany, with over 200 German companies operational within the country.
He referred to India as a “rising economic powerhouse” that holds “special significance” on the global platform, reiterating Berlin's unwavering support for finalizing the FTA between India and the European Union.
Germany was the eighth-largest trading partner for India in 2024-25, ranked twelfth in 2023-24, and eleventh in 2022-23. It stands as the ninth-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India, with a total FDI of $15.11 billion from April 2000 to March 2025.