ERFURT – The India Day Thuringia event on Thursday, November 7, 2024, offers an ideal platform for companies and researchers to learn about and exchange information on business opportunities and cooperation options on the Indian subcontinent. The conference will take place in the Meitner Building of the Ilmenau University of Technology, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 5 in Ilmenau. It is organized by the Ilmenau University of Technology and LEG Thüringen.
“Germany, and we in Thuringia in particular, are counting on India as a strategic partner to diversify our economic relations with Asia,” says Thuringia’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Science, Wolfgang Tiefensee. “For this to happen, however, it is crucial that the negotiations on the free trade agreement between the EU and India are concluded swiftly. We need this free trade agreement to eliminate existing competitive disadvantages for German companies.” Thuringia has been working for many years to further deepen its already strong economic and research ties with the Indian subcontinent. “Trade volume with India reached a new record high of €300 million in 2023,” the minister added. Exchanges are also working very well in the scientific sector – there are currently 13 university partnerships, and 1,900 Indian students are studying at a Thuringian university. “This is a solid foundation on which to build for the future,” Tiefensee said. The greatest potential for deepening cooperation and increasing economic and scientific exchange will be discussed at the “India Day” event.
In the run-up to the event, LEG Managing Director Sabine Wosche emphasizes: “With our ‘Thuringia International’ team, we have been supporting Thuringian companies, universities, and research institutes in their internationalization projects for many years. India is one of the fastest-growing economies and offers immense opportunities in terms of business relationships as well as cooperation in science and research. Our India Day Thuringia offers a multifaceted program with renowned experts, ensuring that all participants receive a wealth of information and opportunities for exchange.”
“As the world’s fifth-largest economy, India is an extremely attractive partner for us as a technical university. With its stable economic growth, particularly in the industrial sector, and its strength in mechanical engineering and IT, we are looking forward to ‘India Day Thuringia’ with great anticipation,” stated Prof. Kai-Uwe Sattler, President of TU Ilmenau, in the lead-up to India Day. “India has launched ambitious economic reform programs in the energy transition, the technology sector, and research – all areas in which TU Ilmenau also has much to offer. Furthermore, India provides the second-largest community of international students at TU Ilmenau, highly qualified men and women whom we would like to retain in Thuringia as future skilled professionals.”
A highlight of the conference will be the keynote address by Walter J. Lindner, former German Ambassador to India, on the topic: “The Old West and the New South: What We Should Learn from India Before It’s Too Late.” This renowned expert in geopolitics will offer a fascinating perspective on the subcontinent’s global political and economic significance and provide inspiring input for the subsequent panel discussion on “India, the New China?” with experts and business representatives. Two parallel workshops will offer numerous instructive suggestions and opportunities for exchange. They will focus on successful market entry and business development in India, as well as intercultural understanding in business practice. The workshops will also explore and discuss cooperation opportunities in science and research between Thuringian and Indian institutions. A newly introduced format is the “Indian Business Idol” session, where Indian students will present innovative ideas for expanding business relationships between Thuringian companies and India. The event concludes with a festive celebration of the Indian festival of Diwali, known as the "Festival of Lights," one of the most important Hindu festivals. All participants will enjoy a vibrant cultural program featuring music and dance, Indian cuisine, and ample networking opportunities.
All media professionals are cordially invited to attend the event.
Location: Ilmenau, Meitner Building, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Straße 5
Time: Thursday, November 7th, 12-8 pm
Information about the event, including the program, can be found at: www.thueringen-international.de/termine/india-day-thuringia-2024
