India–Germany partnership takes centre stage as News9 Global Summit 2025 concludes in Stuttgart
The News9 Global Summit 2025 in Stuttgart highlighted the growing depth of India–Germany relations across trade, technology, education, and culture. Held under the theme "Democracy, Demography, Development: The India–Germany Connect," the event marked 25 years of strategic partnership. Leaders including Barun Das, Anurag Thakur, and Gunther Krichbaum called for completing the India–EU FTA by 2025, while German officials like Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut and Florian Hassler stressed innovation, su
New Delhi: The News9 Global Summit 2025 Germany Edition concluded on Thursday at Stuttgart's iconic MHP Arena, after a day packed with high-level discussions, global insights, and landmark ideas aimed at deepening the India–Germany partnership across economic, strategic, and cultural domains.
The summit organised by the TV9 Network was held under the theme "Democracy, Demography, Development: The India–Germany Connect" and coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Indo-German strategic partnership. The one-day event brought together ministers, diplomats, industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers from both nations.
India–Germany: A model for the free world
Opening the summit, Barun Das, Managing Director and CEO of TV9 Network, called the India–Germany relationship a partnership that can become a role model for the free world. He described the ongoing India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a transformational pact that could double bilateral trade to $258 billion by 2028. In The EU, Germany is India's largest trading partner with annual trade exceeding $30 billion.
Shared values and resilience
Rouven Kasper, chief marketing and sales officer of VfB Stuttgart, said the partnership between India and Germany is rooted in innovation, sustainability, and shared values. He also underscored the role of sports diplomacy as a bridge between cultures.
Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Labour, Economy & Tourism for Baden-Württemberg, called for deeper international collaboration amid a "less predictable" world. "Partnerships across borders are not just valuable -- they are vital," she said. She further noted that a free trade agreement would boost trust and open new avenues for growth.
Dr Johann David Wadephul, Germany's federal minister for foreign affairs, described India and Germany as "natural partners" whose combined strengths -- Germany's technology and India's youthful energy -- make the relationship unique.
From India, Anurag Thakur, MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines, and Steel, presented a six-point action plan to strengthen bilateral ties, calling Germany "a trusted friend that has stood the test of time".
Krichbaum: India–EU FTA within reach
Gunther Krichbaum, German Minister of State for Europe, said both sides must show flexibility and compromise to finalise the India–EU FTA by the end of 2025. Krichbaum also pointed to the 60,000 Indian students in Germany as living bridges between the two countries.
Florian Hassler, State Secretary for Political Coordination & Europe, Baden-Württemberg, celebrated 10 years of partnership with Maharashtra, emphasising that the collaboration has grown across industry, academia, and culture. "About 350 German companies are active in Maharashtra, and more than 50 Indian firms have established a presence in our state," he said.
He also lauded the success of the Indian Film Festival of Stuttgart, the largest of its kind in Europe, as a symbol of enduring cultural connection.
Innovation and sustainability take the spotlight
Panels throughout the day explored startups, defence collaboration, global capability centres, and sustainability. At the session "Indo-German Accelerator: Startup Ecosystems to International Markets", speakers from Karlsruhe and Hyderabad discussed the rise of sustainable startups and cross-country incubators aimed at connecting innovators and investors.
In another session, industry leaders from Siemens Technology, Accenture India, MHP India, and Buchner Consulting emphasised how Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are evolving from cost-saving units to innovation powerhouses. With 150+ German GCCs in India employing around 1.5 lakh people, speakers agreed that policy stability, talent exchange, and technology synergy will define the next phase of growth.
Germany’s education appeal rises
In session about education, experts highlighted Germany’s growing appeal as a top study destination amid global curbs on international students. With over 49,000 Indian students enrolled in 2023–24, panelists credited its affordable, high-quality education, research ecosystem, and industry integration. Speakers said language isn’t a barrier, praising Indians’ multilingual adaptability and STEM proficiency.
Diplomacy beyond governments
The summit wrapped up with retired Ambassador Dr Jürgen Morhard, President of the Indo-German Society, highlighted the power of paradiplomacy—people-driven international engagement. Speaking on "Paradiplomacy as a new dimension of Germany-India partnership,” he said real diplomacy begins with human connections, student exchanges, and friendships, not official meetings or agreements, which only open doors for genuine trust-building.