TV9 Networks MD & CEO Barun Das Unpacks Indias Digital Leap and Indo-German Economic Partnership at News9 Global Summit
At the News9 Global Summit, Germany Edition 2025, Barun Das, MD & CEO of TV9 Network, delivered an opening address emphasising India's unique path to modernity and its strong strategic ties with Germany. Barun Das described India's "leapfrog to modernity" through widespread digital adoption, citing over 20 billion UPI transactions in August 2025 and the empowering role of smartphones in economic prosperity, which has lifted 240 million Indians out of poverty in a decade.
Addressing dignitaries, Barun Das noted the summit co-hosted by the state of Baden-Württemberg and VfB Stuttgart, marking 25 years of India-Germany strategic relations. He highlighted Germany as India's largest EU trading partner, with an annual volume near $30 billion.
The ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade, potentially reaching $260 billion by 2028. German Global Capability Centres in India are driving innovation, moving beyond a low-cost perception. The summit explores "Democracy, Demography and Development," aligning with Prime Minister Modis vision of a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047.