Just a few decades ago, India was still perceived as a distant culture. A lot has happened since then: Germany and India have become ever closer. Through intensive economic contact, the two countries have grown together both socially and commercially. Our partnership now has a broad and permanent foundation.

This process of coming closer together is also reflected in relations between the Free State of Saxony and India. Since 2003, exports from Saxony to India have continuously increased – more than sixfold to date. Imports into Saxony from India have also increased promisingly. Admittedly, India still represents a comparatively small proportion of Saxony’s foreign trade – but India’s rising economic prosperity gives reason to hope that this will increase significantly in coming years. Many Germans respect the Indian Government’s goal to make its country a global economic player. This is, after all, a realistic goal: according to forecasts, India will soon be one of the world’s economic powerhouses, along with the USA and China. The European Union will be a good equal partner for all three of these countries, and what is true for the EU in general is also true for the Free State of Saxony: international cooperation and a consistent focus on world markets are the keys to success. Companies on both sides – from Saxony and India – are keen to seize these opportunities. Germany and India already have many shared economic success stories. We would like to add many more success stories about India and Saxony.

Saxony and India already work together in the field of engineering. In future, however, the focus will also be on new sectors such as energy (renewable energy, clean coal technology) or biotechnology: Saxony is one of Germany’s leading red biotechnology regions. There is already close cooperation between commercial companies and science institutes, and its potential is yet to be fully realised.

Besides our core areas of expertise, the microchip industry and photovoltaic technology, Saxon technology provides Indian companies with the opportunity to improve their energy efficiency and productivity – for instance, by using modern machines and facilities. Saxon companies operate according to the maxim, “Modernisation means protecting the climate.” We want Saxon technology to enable the whole world to operate energy efficiently.

In coming years, we will make Saxony one of the most attractive regions in Europe. Because we want the ideas of the future to come from Saxony, we set great store by research and development, and we promote knowledge transfer to companies. Saxony has the highest density of non-university research institutes in the whole of Germany, which provides a good foundation for this. But most importantly, we have an expert domestic workforce right here in Saxony: we have a greater-than-average proportion of graduates. Our Free State is the breeding ground for Germany’s engineers.

The prospects of further cooperation, and of joint economic and scientific projects, are as good as ever. Not only do we welcome international investors, we also actively support them with economic assistance and expedited approval procedures. Our two countries work together intensively and have great potential. And if your path also leads you to Saxony, then we will be glad to welcome and support you, too!