LAUNCH OF NEW INDIA COMPETENCE CENTER

 Pooling their resources, the Düsseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce,

the state capital of Düsseldorf and Messe Düsseldorf underscore the relevance

of German-Indian economic relations

    The newly founded India Competence Centre Düsseldorf (IKD) was opened on June 27, 2025, with a high-level kick-off event at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK – German abbreviation) in Düsseldorf, Germany. On hand to jointly present the new project were Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller, IHK President Andreas Schmitz and Messe Düsseldorf President & CEO Wolfram Diener.

   With the IKD, the state capital of Düsseldorf, the IHK and Messe Düsseldorf created a central point of contact for all matters related to the Indian market. The competence center offers targeted support to Indian companies opening offices in Düsseldorf while facilitating access to the Indian growth market for Düsseldorf-based companies.

Bridge Between Promising Future Markets

   “India has one of the most dynamic economies in the world. With the new India Competence Centre, we’re making a clear statement about the strategic trajectory of our foreign trade relations,” IHK President Andreas Schmitz said in his introductory remarks. “In geopolitically challenging times, it’s particularly crucial to promote the diversification of sales and procurement markets. The IKD will work to support our member companies as a competent partner.”

Strengthening Düsseldorf’s International Economic Relations

   Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller praised the growing partnership with India: “Düsseldorf and India have a close working relationship. Supported by the city’s Office of Economic Development, numerous Indian companies have chosen to create offices in Düsseldorf in recent years. Since 2023, we’ve also been collaborating closely with the state of Karnataka, particularly in the areas of technology and skilled labor. Building on this foundation, the competence center marks another milestone in our efforts to strengthen economic ties and raise Düsseldorf’s profile as an internationally networked business location.”

Trade Shows as Door Openers for New Markets

   “Our trade shows are a source of inspiration, and they build bridges between markets,” emphasized Wolfram Diener, President & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “With 20 leading global trade shows in Düsseldorf and 16 leading regional trade shows in India, we offer platforms for direct market opportunities and turn Düsseldorf into the ideal hub for German-Indian business relations. Moving forward, our aim with the IKD is to create additional valuable synergies for both markets.”

Indian Consul General Praises Commitment

   B.S. Mubarak, the Indian Consul General in Frankfurt, was impressed by the commitment of the Düsseldorf institutions: “The India Competence Centre is an excellent example of economic cooperation in action. It offers a structured platform for bringing companies from both countries together. I’m convinced that this center will be an incubator for many successful partnerships.”

Several expert panels at the kick-off event focused on economic opportunities and on India’s geopolitical significance.

Background Information on Bilateral Economic Relations and IKD Sponsor Activities

India is one of the industrialized and emerging countries with the highest growth rates (7.8% in the 2023/24 fiscal year). The IMF forecast for the current fiscal year (24/25) is 6.8%. Similarly, the IMF and the World Bank forecast growth rates of just over 6% for the coming years as well, making the country the fastest-growing major economy in the world and putting it ahead of other emerging and developing countries in Asia in terms of economic development. By the end of the decade, India will be the world’s third-largest economy after the U.S. and China, overtaking Germany and Japan. The country is investing heavily in its infrastructure, such as airports, seaports, railways and roads. India also has great potential in the energy sector. In addition, India is a hub for digital technology and innovation. The country now earns more from exports of software and IT services than Saudi Arabia does from oil sales.

Having been a part of the India Desk network of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) for many years, the Düsseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) offers a wide range of practical business information and events covering the market. A large number of Düsseldorf-based businesses are invested in India or otherwise active in the market, including companies such as Henkel, GEA, Gerresheimer, Kiepe Electric and Eller + Eller Architekten. The bilateral trade volume between North Rhine-Westphalia and India amounted to approximately €6 billion in 2024 (+0.7% compared to 2023). At least 200 companies from North Rhine-Westphalia have invested in India, creating more than 100,000 jobs. Direct investment from North Rhine-Westphalia in India amounts to approximately €4 billion.

At the same time, the state capital of Düsseldorf – a metropolis with a high quality of life and cosmopolitan character – makes for an attractive location for companies and skilled workers from India. Some 40 Indian companies and 7,000 Indian nationals now call Düsseldorf home – a figure that’s rapidly rising. Among Indian companies located here are numerous global players, including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, Tech Mahindra and Tata Steel. The Düsseldorf Office of Economic Development has maintained a regular presence in India for years in order to promote the state capital as a business location and systematically grow the local network. In 2023, the state capital of Düsseldorf entered a cooperation agreement to deepen its collaboration with the state of Karnataka. The aim is to strengthen the network between startups in the areas of Industry 4.0, digital health and sustainability. Another focus of the partnership is on the recruitment of qualified skilled workers.

Messe Düsseldorf is one of the most successful trade show companies worldwide. Every year, international market leaders and top decision-makers from various industries come together at about 40 trade shows, including 20 world-leading events, held at the company’s own Exhibition Center in Düsseldorf. In addition, more than 80 trade shows around the globe serve as platforms for regional markets. Sixteen of these take place in India – more than in any other market outside Germany. Messe Düsseldorf also operates one of its nine international subsidiaries there, with locations in New Delhi and Mumbai. The trade shows in this key market are attractive flagship events that promote Düsseldorf/NRW as a global trade show location. A total of 3,688 Indian companies exhibited in Düsseldorf from 2014 to 2024. Moreover, 129,380 visitors from India traveled to attend Düsseldorf’s leading global trade shows during this period, making India the third-largest non-European attendee nation (after the U.S. and China); on the exhibitor side, the subcontinent ranks fourth (after the U.S., China and South Korea). Overall, these numbers represent an important economic asset for Düsseldorf.