Gujarat CM holds talks with German business delegation in Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, Jan 12
A high-level German business delegation led by State Secretary Stefan Rauenhoff held a strategic meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar on Monday.
The delegation is visiting India to participate in the India-Germany CEO Forum, which was convened in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Welcoming the delegation, Chief Minister Patel congratulated them on the success of the CEO Forum and said Gujarat highly values its partnership with Germany.
The delegates expressed appreciation for Gujarat's contribution of over 8 per cent to India's GDP growth, noting that they were particularly keen on expanding cooperation in the SME sector.
Chief Minister Patel highlighted that under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, Indian states are now striving to accelerate their growth trajectories.
He assured the delegation that Gujarat is committed to strengthening its partnership with German industry, and announced plans to establish a dedicated help desk to facilitate German investments and improve ease of doing business in the state.
During the discussions, State Secretary Rauenhoff said Germany is seeking to diversify its supply chains, and for Gujarat to become a preferred partner, challenges in logistics, production structures and economic frameworks must be addressed.
He noted that Gujarat is emerging as a leader in the energy sector, and said German expertise in renewable energy grids and storage technologies could significantly support the state's ambitions.
Chief Minister Patel outlined Gujarat's roadmap toward Viksit Bharat @2047, stating that the state is prepared to take a leading role by setting up six regional growth hubs and identifying district-level focus sectors through the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conferences.
He noted that Gujarat's reputation as a policy-driven state - with progressive sector-specific policies such as the Hybrid Renewable Energy Policy, IT Policy and Green Hydrogen Policy - offers attractive opportunities for German companies to collaborate in their areas of strength.
He specifically highlighted the potential for Gujarat to benefit from Germany's expertise in precision engineering and advanced technology. Members of the German delegation, including Siemens CEO Ronald Busch, also shared suggestions on integrating Gujarat's MSMEs into global supply chains and further developing supply chain ecosystems in the state.
More than 30 top German industrialists and investors participated in the meeting, representing sectors ranging from engineering to automotive, marine, chemicals and advanced manufacturing.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see focus on integrating MSMEs into global supply chains. That's where real job creation happens at the grassroots level. Hope the benefits of these big investments trickle down to smaller towns and not just stay in industrial corridors.
While partnerships are welcome, the German delegate rightly pointed out challenges in logistics and frameworks. We need to fix our internal infrastructure bottlenecks first. Faster ports, better roads, and less red tape are crucial to actually becoming a 'preferred partner'.
The focus on renewable energy collaboration is promising. Germany's tech in green hydrogen and storage can help Gujarat meet its ambitious climate goals. This is the kind of partnership we need for sustainable development.
Vibrant Gujarat summit has really put the state on the global map. Other states should learn from this model of proactive engagement. When the CM himself assures a help desk, it sends a strong signal to investors about commitment.
Interesting to see Germany diversifying supply chains towards India. Geopolitical shifts are creating real opportunities. Gujarat's policy-driven approach seems to be paying off. The six regional growth hubs plan sounds ambitious.
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