The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry organised an Interactive Session with His Excellency Dr. Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India & Bhutan on Thursday, 12th October 2023, from 12:15 p.m. onwards at ITC Room, The Bengal Chamber premises. The session was also joined by Ms. Barbara Voss, Consul General of Germany in Kolkata and Mr. Johannes Hoeber, Cultural Head, Embassy of Germany.

The session commenced with the welcome address by Mr. Gautam Ray, President, BCC&I where he said that the Indo-German relationship is marked by a strong connection through cultural and academic interests. German scholars have played a pivotal role in introducing Indian art, culture, literature, and philosophy to Germany and the wider world. In June 2019, The Bengal Chamber organized a Business Delegation's visit to Germany, including stops in Stuttgart, Uhingen, Dusseldorf/Cologne, and Berlin. The delegation actively participated in the Annual Meeting of the Members of Indo-German Chamber of Commerce in Dusseldorf, alongside various other B2B and B2G meetings. More recently, in August, the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) collaborated with The Bengal Chamber to host a workshop in Kolkata, focusing on "Strengthening Supply Chain Integrity in India." These initiatives highlight the multifaceted nature of the Indo-German relationship, encompassing cultural exchange, academic collaborations, and bilateral business efforts.

Followed by H.E. Dr. Philipp Ackermann mentioned in his address that German companies are interested in investing in India but require strong infrastructure support. Progress has been made in infrastructure development, with a focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Healthy competition among Indian states is recognized. Well-developed infrastructure is vital for India's economic growth and to attract German investments. Germany acknowledges India's achievements in the IT sector and the availability of well-trained engineers but emphasizes the need for vocational training. There's a growing interest from German businesses to invest in India, particularly in research and development and manufacturing sectors. India is increasingly seen as an attractive destination for German investments.

The entire gathering was an exclusive interactive session which had presence of representatives from multi sectors like Education, Skill, MSME, IT, Energy and Environment, Engineering & Manufacturing, Culture and Heritage, Health, Shipping, and Logistics. Around 35 senior industry representatives participated in the interactive session, which also had the presence of Former Presidents of BCC&I. This entire session received widespread appreciation from senior members of The Bengal Chamber, and was well covered by media.