H I GHL IGH TS :

-Visit of MoS

M. J. Akbar to Germany

-FinTech Event

-Ambiente Trade Fair

-Make In India Initiatives

C O N S U L A T E

G E N E R A L O F

I N D I A ,

F R A N K F U R T INDIEN NEWSLETTER V O L U M E I V , I S S U E I I I

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Foreword by CG

1

MoS Shri M.J Akbar

in Germany

2

Outreach activities

Outreach activities

3

4

Spotlight on India

5

India-Germany

Business News

6

News Round-up 7

Dear Friends

India created history by successfully launching 104 satellites on a single

mission. This put us in league with the major player in the international

space making and demonstrated the technological prowess of India. The

Consulate salutes the men and women behind the mission.

It was a busy month for us at the Consulate .MoS External Affairs Shri M. J.

Akbar gave an impressive account on the recent economic and political

changes in India to a diverse gathering in Frankfurt /M. We continued

our outreach activities by engaging with the students (TU Kaiserslautern)

Site visits (Gebr. Pfeiffer SE & TML group) and organised events with a

sectoral focus (FinTech and Demonetization)

Stay in touch and feel free to write to me with your thoughts and inputs at

cg.frankfurt@mea.gov.in.

Warm regards

Raveesh Kumar Consul General of India, Frankfurt

Foreword

Source NDTV

Visit of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shri M.J. Akbar to Germany

for G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting

Hon‘ble Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shri M. J. Akbar visited Germany from February 15-17, 2017 to attend

the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Bonn. At the meeting, MoS shared India’s development experience

including the radical use of digital technology as a means for achieving inclusion and economic transformation. On

the sidelines of the G20 Meeting, MoS held bilateral meetings with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Ms.

Federica Mogherini; Foreign Minister of Argentina Ms. Susana Malcorra; Foreign Minister of Netherlands Mr. Bert

Koenders; and Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Mr. Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. MoS also met with the UN Secretary

General Mr. Antonio Guterres and discussed issues related to counter terrorism, poverty alleviation, sustainable

development and Africa.

Hon‘ble MoS also visited Frankfurt on his way to Bonn for the G-20 Foreign Ministers meeting on 15th February.

Consul General hosted a meet in his honour with top representatives from the Economic Councils, Chambers of

Commerce, Media, Universities and Indian entrepreneurs. MoS delivered a speech on the recent events in India and

the impact it will have on the Indo-German relationship.

German Federal Foreign Minister Mr. Sigmar

Gabriel welcoming MoS at the G20 Foreign

Ministers Meet

Hon‘ble MoS Shri M.J. Akbar at the G20 Foreign Ministers Meet

Hon'ble MoS with the participants at the Business

Meet in Frankfurt /M. Hon'ble MoS addressing the gathering

Forthcoming Events. -23rd March: India meets Frank-furtrheinMain. For more details –events@cgifrankfurt.de -29th April: Indra Dhanush-Sound of Rainbow 2017 - In-discher Tanz u. Musik Abend in the City of Kelsterbach For more details –asstpic@cgifrankfurt.de

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P A G E 3

I N D I E N N E W S L E T T E R

Open House with Indian students in TU Kaiserslautern

Consul General visited the TU Kaiserslautern and had discussions

with the President of the University, Prof. Dr. Helmut J. Schmidt,

Vice President for Study and Teaching, Professor Dr. Norbert

Wehn as well as an interactive session with the Indian students

studying and pursuing research at the university on 9th

February. The discussions revolved around the possible

cooperation and collaborations between the University and

Universities in India. The well being of the Indian students and

the possibilitiesof jobs post studies for the students were also

discussed. Currently, there are 405 Indian students/researchers at the University.

Outreach activities

India’s FinTech Moment

The Consula te in coope ra t ion wi th F inte ch

Forum, TechFluence, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Aecal

Consulting organized a Meet up on 'India’s FinTech Moment &

Opportunities for Germany’s Startups & Investors' in Frankfurt

on 3rd February. Consul General delivered the welcome remarks

and commenced the session. Keynote addresses were delivered

by Mr. Samarth Shekhar, CEO, Techfluence, on 'The German

FinTech Ecosystem’ and Mr. Manoj Kashyap, PwC Leader Fintech,

on ‘Indian FinTech Landscape & Opportunity Areas’. A Panel

discussion was held on 'India & Germany, key opportunities for FinTech Collaboration'. There was a participation of 40 people

from the banking, startup and Fintech sector.

Outreach to German SME‘s

As part of the Consulate's economic outreach programme under the

flagship initiative of 'Make In India', Consul General visited the

company Gebr. Pfeiffer SE in Kaiserslautern on 9th February. Gebr. Pfeiffer

produces technical mills and plants with the tasks grinding, sighting,

drying, erasing and calcining for the production of cement, lime, gypsum,

and ceramics all over the world and considers India as one of its strategic

markets. Consul General met Mr. Christoph Geupel, Member of the Executive

Board and Mr. Falk Werner, Senior Sales, Indian continent and discussed

the company's future plans for India.

Consul General visited the TML Group in Monheim am Rhein and met Mr.

Volker Bongardt, the President and Mr. Micheal Hobden, the VP Sales &

Marketing at its headquarter on 21st February. Founded in 1963, the

company is involved in planning, developing and manufacturing specialized

equipment with telescopic rotary booms, and machines which can operate

under extreme conditions on a daily basis. The company has a sales office in

India .

CG with eminent speakers at the Meetup on 'India’s FinTech

Moment & Opportunities for Germany’s Startups & Investors'

CG with Indian students and Dr. Parya Memar, Head,

International Department, at TU Kaiserslautern

CG with Mr. Christoph Geupel, Member of the Executive

Board and Mr. Falk Werner, Senior Sales, Indian continent

CG with Mr.Volker Bongardt, President and Mr.

Micheal Hobden, VP Sales & Marketing.

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I N D I E N N E W S L E T T E R

Outreach activities

Ambiente Trade Fair 2017

On 10th February, Consul General jointly inaugurated the India

Pavilion organized by EPCH India (Export Promotion Council for

Handicrafts) at the Ambiente Trade Fair with Ms Jaya Dubey,

Director, Ministry of Textiles. The Fair was held from 10th -14th

February, at the Messe Frankfurt. The Ambiente receives around

136,000 trade visitors from 143 countries who benefit from a

forward-looking market overview and a range of goods unique in

terms of breadth and depth. This year around 450 exhibitors from

India participated at the Fair.

On the same day, the Consulate in cooperation with the EPCH India (Export Promotion Council for India) organized an India

Evening, on the sideline of Ambiente Trade Fair 2017, on 'Handicrafts Market Worldwide - India a Sourcing Destination' in

Frankfurt. Consul General delivered the welcome remarks. Ms. Yvonne Engelmann, Director, Consumer Goods Fair -

Ambiente addressed the gathered exhibitors and emphasized the importance of India as an important partner for the Fair.

Presentation on the Indian Handicrafts Market was given by Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, EPCH and the vote of

thanks delivered by Mr. Rakesh Kumar Shrivastava, Executive Director, National Centre for Design & Product Development. A

cultural performance rounded up the evening. The event was attended by around 120 exhibitors, importers and other

visitors to the Fair.

Market Entry to India

A business event was organized in Düsseldorf by Maier+Vidorno in

cooperation with the Consulate, Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf, State Bank of

India, and ICUnet on ‘India on a reform course’ on 16th February. Consul

General gave a presentation on demonetization and the impact of the reform

on the Indian economy. Mr. Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, CEO, State Bank of

India, spoke on understanding the Indian market with the right banking

partner. Presentations were also made by CFO, M+V on ‘How do I make my

company fit for GST implementation?’, Sharing best practices in India by the

firm Siegenia-Aubi and also by an intercultural expert on how to find the

right employees in India. Around 40 representatives from the German

companies and entrepreneurs participated at the event.

CG Inaugurating the Indian Pavillion at the Ambiente Trade Fair

Ms. Yvonne Engelmann, Director, Consumer

Goods Fair - Ambiente addressing the audience

Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, EPCH,

making a presentation on the Indian

Handicraft Market in India

CG with Indian artisans, organisers of the evening and cultural

artists

CG talking about the impacts and

implication of the Demonetizsation reform

undertaken by GoI in November 2016.

Spotlight on India P A G E 5

V O L U M E I V , I S S U E I I I

India a great destination for building digital economy infra-

structure: Payoneer CEO Scott Galit

India is seen as one of the top markets for digital economy as it is ranked

fourth in terms of active Internet-users across the world. The world is

shifting towards digital economy and it is changing countries and people

across the globe. Digital transformation is altering the way organisations

work and is contributing in reshaping the global economy altogether.

Digital transformation has also changed the modes of payment globally

making it easy, cashless and hassle-free. India is seen as one of the top

markets for digital economy as it is ranked fourth in terms of active In-

ternet users across the world. The Indian government is also gearing

towards digitization of the country and has launched initiatives to pave

way for a cashless society through its varied schemes like Aadhar Pay

Indian teen figures out economical way to make saltwater

drinkable

The American-Indian boy Chaitanya Karamchedu from Portland, Oregon

found a cheap, easily accessible way to provide clean water from salt

water. The boy studying in Jesuit High School/Portland State University

used hydrogel based desalination technique using saponified starch graft-

ed polyacrylamide’s hydrophilic properties to harvest fresh water. The

process does not require any thermal and electrical energy and filtered

water has comparable conductivity of 306.32 µS/cm which is comparable

to the conductivity of distilled water at 200 µS/cm. What’s striking is that

the process has negligible pre-treatment and post-treatment cost which

makes it usable on a small scale, especially for those people who are

prone to lack of fresh water.

Why Amazon.com Inc. is investing Billions in India?

India is the world's second most populous country. It is the biggest de-

mocracy, and the sixth-biggest economy. And now, it appears to be the

next big prize for Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN).When Amazon spots a

market opportunity, it goes all in after it. In the past, the company has

jumped on nascent markets in e-commerce, e-books, video streaming, and

cloud computing. Its ability to recognize opportunities and take advantage

of them is one of the biggest drivers of its success. Now, on a global scale,

India may be the company's next big opportunity. Amazon announced it

would invest an additional $3 billion on the subcontinent last year, and CEO

Jeff Bezos has ordered his deputies to "do what it takes" to win the Indian

market, where the company faces stiff competition from China's Aliba-

ba and native players Snapdeal and FlipKart.

Boom time for India’s renewable energy sector

The world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter has seen the cost of pro-

ducing alternate energy resources tumble to levels where they can compete

with coal-fired plants. The Modi government has been somewhat on the

back foot defending demonetisation. Amid the din of Twitter and a TV war

of words, significant achievements that could be at the forefront of dis-

course of the establishment, have been lost. One such arena where India is

making rapid progress, courtesy the commitment of Hon’ble PM Shri Modi,

has been renewable energy. The cost of producing alternate energy re-

sources in India has tumbled to levels that they can effectively compete

with conventional power generated by polluting coal-fired plants, the main

source of electricity in the country. What is more, tariffs are quoting the

new low rates without government subsidies and more fiscal support of

consequence, which means that clean energy in India has come of age,

become a sustainable business model.

India to be fastest growing economy among G-20 nations:

Moody's

India will be the fastest growing economy among G-20 countries clocking a

7.1 per cent growth in 2017, Moody's Investors Service said. The Indian

economy had slowed in the fourth quarter of 2016 due to the withdrawal of

86 per cent of the currency in circulation -- without an immediate replace-

ment. "India is forecast to have the fastest growing economy among all G-

20 countries with growth put at 7.1 per cent for 2017, down from a previ-

ous expectation of 7.5 per cent because of the effects of demonetisation,"

Moody's said. With regard to global growth, Moody's said continuing cycli-

cal recovery in global economic activity with growth in G-20 countries

picking up modestly to 3 per cent in 2017 and 2018 from 2.6 per cent in

2016, but potential shifts in US policy add uncertainty to this forecast.

"We note unusually high uncertainty around our global forecasts due to the

wide range of outcomes that could arise from significant shifts in US policy

on a number of domestic and international issues, including trade and

immigration," Moody's VP and senior Analyst Madhavi Bokil said .

India launches record 104 satellites in single mission

India has created history by successfully launching 104 satellites on a

single mission, overtaking the previous record of 37 satellites launched

by Russia in 2014. All but three of the satellites are from foreign coun-

tries, most of them from the United States. The launch took place from

Sriharikota space centre in south India. Observers say it is a sign that

India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space

market."This is a great moment for each and every one of us. Today we

have created history," project director B Jayakumar was quoted as say-

ing by the Reuters news agency. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi con-

gratulated the scientists. ‘’This remarkable feat by @isro is yet another

proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation. India

salutes our scientists."

India-Germany Business News P A G E 6

V O L U M E I V , I S S U E I I I

Ease of doing business: Big changes by Modi Govt will allow

you to start a business in 6 days

In a major push by the Government to improve ease of doing business in

India, by March-end you will be able to start a business in India in six

days, compared to the current 26 days. The number of procedures will

also be halved from the current 12 to only six. Currently there 12

procedures in Delhi that a company needs to follow to incorporate a

company. If you are in Mumbai the number goes up to 14 as you have to

register for Profession Tax and receive inspection and obtain Shops

and Establishment registration certificate. Out of the 190 countries in the

list, India Ranks 130 overall in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business

Report and ranks 155 in terms of starting a business.

Germany keen on investments in TN:

Germany is keen on strengthening its ties with India particularly in Tamil

Nadu and was looking forward to investments in various sectors, Consul-

General in Chennai, Achim Fabig said. Fabig during his brief interaction

with Hon’ble Governor Shri CH Vidyasagar Rao at the Raj Bhavan said the

trade between India and Germany "significantly progressed and many

Indian IT companies have invested in Germany". "In the same way, Ger-

mans invested in India in various fields, specially in automobile industry

in Chennai", he was quoted as saying in a Raj Bhavan release. "Germany

is keen on further strengthening its business and strategic ties with India,

particularly in Tamil Nadu and look forward to investments in areas of

renewable energy, green technologies and education exchange pro-

grammes", he said.

India, Germany ratify 2011 agreement on social security

India and Germany ratified a comprehensive Social Security Agreement

(SSA), to come into effect from May, to improve investment flows between

the two countries. The agreement, signed on October 12, 2011, and of

which instruments of ratification were exchanged, is expected to reduce

the operational costs of Indian and German companies operating in either

of the countries. "The agreement establishes the rights and obligations of

nationals of both countries and provides for their equal treatment and

unrestricted payment of pensions even in case of residence in the other

contracting state (benefits export principle), ‘’The requirements to be

entitled to a pension can be met by aggregating the periods of insurance

completed in India and Germany, whereby each country pays only the

pension for the insurance periods covered by its laws. The period of post-

ing will be up to 48 calendar months," The two countries signed an

Agreement on Social Insurance on October 8, 2008, which came into force

on October 1, 2009.

German chemicals group BASF opens innovation campus Asia

Pacific in Mumbai

The Germany-based global chemical giant BASF inaugurated an innovation

campus Asia Pacific in Mumbai expanding the company’s existing R&D

activities in India to include global and regional research on a wide range

of specialty chemicals. The innovation campus project, involving an invest-

ment of up to €50 million, is the BASF Group’s largest research and devel-

opment (R&D) investment in South Asia. All global research operations at

the campus will be housed under BASF Chemicals India Private Limited, a

wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF SE. The campus will cover areas such as

personal & home care, process development, organic synthesis, crop pro-

tection and many more.

Germany wants greater collaboration with India in farm tech-

nology

Germany has a lot to offer to India in terms of technology in agriculture and

also skill creation, but ``proper and predictable’’ policy interventions are

required for transferring technology.“German companies have invested

large amounts in India. In the last few years there have been a number of

agreements in areas such as food safety standards, risk management and

seed development. With a reliable regulatory framework there could be

closer cooperation,” said Arnd Nenstiel, Chairman, German Agribusiness

Alliance at a seminar on financing of agriculture. German Agribusiness

Alliance is an initiative of leading German trade associations and companies

from the agriculture and food sectors which work with the German govern-

ment to promote cooperation with transforming, emerging and developing

economies in the agriculture and food sectors. Speaking at a seminar, Ger-

man Ambassador Martin Ney said that financing for modernisation and

value addition was key to development of agriculture.

MAN Trucks India expands reach in Maharashtra with Pu-

ne dealership

MAN Trucks India Pvt. Ltd. a 100 percent subsidiary of MAN Truck and Bus

AG, Germany, the world’s leading manufacturer of trucks and buses in

association with M/s Bhagyodaya Automotive, inaugurated a new state of

the art dealership for its commercial vehicle brand in Pune. The new deal-

ership is spread over an area of 55000 sqft and is equipped with state-of-the

-art equipment, eight service bays and sophisticated infrastructure. The

new Pune dealership is the 41st Dealership for MAN Trucks in India and

10th in the West. The new dealership is a one stop service destination for

commercial vehicles and has been designed to provide a superior experi-

ence to customers. The opening of this dealership which is owned and run

by M/s Bhagyodaya Automotive is an illustration of MAN Trucks’ demand

and acceptance in market.

News Round-up

CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA

FRIEDRICH-EBERT-ANLAGE 26, 60325, FRANKFURT AM

MAIN, GERMANY

Telephone :+49 69 153 00 50

For suggestions and feedback, please send your e-mails to pic.frankfurt@mea.gov.in

Month of February in Pictures!

Engagement with IHK Giessen

Consul General visited IHK Gießen-

Friedberg and had interaction with

Ms. Elvin Yilmaz, Deputy Director of

Foreign Trade and Service Centre

and with Mr. Joachim Münch,

Senior Advisor Development

Cooperation, at the Chamber's

premises on 22nd February. IHK

Giessen provides services to approximately 44,000 companies of the

administrative areas of Giessen, Vogelsberg and Wetterau. A joint event is

being planned in September this year.

For tickets & pre booking please contact at info@kfk.de

CG with Ms Elvin Yilmaz, Deputy Director Foreign Trade and

Service Centre and with Mr. Joachim Münch, Senior Advisor

Development Cooperation

CG with Prof. Dr. Helmut J. Schmidt

President of the University, TU Kaiserslautern

Panel discussion on India & Germany – Key Opportunities for FinTech

Collaboration

Participants from German companies from the Düsseldorf

region at Maier+Vidorno event

CG welcoming the Hon'ble MoS

to the Business meet in Frankfurt

CG attending a business session on 'Business Matching Mittelhessen'

which was held on the sidelines of the W3+ Fair in Wetzlar.