PM Modi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel to open Hannover Messe

The  participation in Hannover Messe 2015 has been engineered to amplify its clarion call to the world—‘Make in India’.

Depicting India as a design, innovation, manufacturing and export hub, India Pavilion will be jointly inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India and the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, the following day and later both the leaders will walk the fairgrounds to view selected pavilions of the two nations.

Exuding the opportunities that characterize India as a vibrant investment destination, the exhibitions and interactive installations are ready to demonstrate the depth of what India has to offer as a manufacturing partner: 1.2 billion empowered citizens, a vast pool of resources, unstoppable entrepreneurial energy and a highly investor-friendly business environment.

The pavilion’s design strategy is centered on portraying the economic potential of the country’s most fertile sectors—biotechnology, renewable energy, space, IT & BPM, industrial corridors and smart cities, wellness, and the demographic dividend it aims to reap.

A prominent section has been dedicated to Indo-German alliances, potential avenues for partnership, and initiatives to harmonize the interests of both nations.

Major national programs such as Skill India and Digital India have also been represented, thereby charting India’s economic road map for the next decade.

India’s participation in the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology that is expected to attract over two hundred thousand global leaders in business, technology, industrial scientists and policy makers this year stands as the most significant international statement the Make in India program has made to date.

The official partner country’s delegation comprises over 350 companies spread across 10 sectoral halls; 6 Government of India Ministries/Departments participating through 6 seminars; 14 state governments participating through 6 seminars; and over 120 top Indian CEOs.

Well-known industry leaders and policymakers, along with apex national level industry organizations have come together to forge new relationships and strengthen India’s economic engagement with the world.

Speaking at the opening press conference, Atul Chaturvedi, Joint Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India emphasized, “As an emerging economic superpower, the opportunities and aspirations of this young nation are symbolized in the Prime Minister's vision of 'Make in India'. Returning to Hannover Messe as a Partner Country this year, we are energized to leverage this global platform to position India as a manufacturing hub and investment destination. With a strong mix of policymakers, industry leaders and over 350 companies keen to take India's message to the world, we are confident of showcasing the opportunities and strengthening the world's economic and intellectual engagement with India. We believe that this summit will not only be a forum for Germany with its core competencies in engineering, innovation and skills to participate in India's growth story, but also for the world to see the reasons to make in India."

In order to facilitate progressive dialogue between India and Germany, the Indo-German Business Summit has been conceptualized as a discussion forum for CEOs from both nations.

Germany’s core competencies in engineering, skills and innovation make it a valuable partner and contributor to India’s growth story. The summit aims to explore the possibilities of India’s economic interactions with Germany’s industrial prowess, while positing strong reasons to invest in India.

This was supported by Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) Managing Director and CEO Erich Nesselhauf,  who said, "India is now evolving and aiming at encouraging growth, ease of doing business, harnessing talent and rekindling the growth story. The world is looking at the new resurgent India with renewed faith and investors are keenly evaluating opportunities of economic engagement. For many years, Hannover Messe has been fostering deeper ties with Indian industry and returning in the role of official Partner Country this year after 2006, provides India a global platform to showcase its engineering prowess, skilled manpower and the sheer positive shift in its economic environment that are contributing towards realization of the 'Make in India' vision.” He highlighted the case study of Daimler which has made India its biggest low cost manufacturing hub for export to the global markets.

Six State Governments have scheduled seminars to highlight investment and infrastructure opportunities in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Government of India's  Ministries and Departments will present 6 seminars involving panel discussions led by Indian and German CEOs, and top officials of the Department of Commerce, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Department of Heavy Industry, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy among others.

Discussions will include Indo-German collaboration across sectors ranging from renewable energy, electronics to heavy engineering and automation. Seminars such as  Smart Cities – the Urban Challenge, Towards a Strategy Skilling India, Collaboration on Digital India among others will focus on avenues for partnering and utilizing German technology for various initiatives by the Indian government as well as  investment facilitation.

The proceedings of the fair will be interspersed with detailed yoga demonstrations and audio-visual sessions on meditation, business yoga, and the relevance of yoga in the Western world. Yoga, a celebrated Indian science, represents classically Indian values: strength, peace and endurance.

The Night of Innovation, hosted at Hall No. 2, will showcase the great Indian folk festival, with a diverse range of performing artists accompanied by samplers of Indian cuisine prepared by chefs from India.

These efforts have been channelized to confidently present to the world India’s unique character: an ancient, ingenious culture that has embraced and mastered technology and enterprise. India’s participation at Hannover Messe paves the path for the transformation of the world’s largest democracy into the world’s most powerful economy.