Goyal highlights importance of trust at Berlin Dialogue
German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche has called for transforming the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) into industrial reality and translating the prospective agreement into concrete trade and investment opportunities.
The call was made during her meeting with Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal who held a series of high-level engagements in Berlin on 22 Oct 2026 to strengthen India–Germany trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
During the bilateral meeting, Goyal and Reiche discussed opportunities for closer industrial collaboration and the potential of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to expand bilateral trade and investment.
Goyal’s engagements included inauguration of the India Centre at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), an India–Germany Business Roundtable and participation in the Berlin Global Dialogue.
The two Ministers jointly inaugurated DGAP’s India Centre in Berlin, which is intended to promote policy research and dialogue on India–Germany relations.
The Ministers also co-chaired an India–Germany Business Roundtable organised with DGAP and the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA), with participation from German CEOs and business leaders.
At the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal participated in the panel discussion titled “New Era, New Alliances: The Third Path?” alongside Personal Representative of the German Chancellor for Investment, Martin Blessing; Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, Dr. Tan See Leng; and Chairwoman and CEO of Marcegaglia Steel, Emma Marcegaglia. The session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Lars-Hendrik Röller.
Goyal highlighted the importance of trust, complementary economic strengths and resilient supply chains in international partnerships.
He also held individual meetings with Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG, Stefan Oelrich, and President of its Pharmaceuticals Division; Murat Akyildiz, Managing Partner of Knauf Group; and CEO of Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Michael Sen, to explore opportunities for business and investment cooperation.
Goyal is accompanied on his visit to Germany and the Netherlands by a delegation of around 100 Indian businesses and startups.
The Berlin engagements form part of ongoing efforts to deepen the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, particularly in trade, investment, technology and industrial cooperation, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said. fiinews.com
