The Embassy of India, Berlin, hosted a high-level roundtable with the visiting FICCI FLO delegation of women business leaders, representatives of the German Association for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (BVMW), and German industry stakeholders. The discussion focused on building stronger Indo-German economic linkages, particularly through SMEs and women-led enterprises.
The session opened with welcome remarks by Ms. Gahana Navya James, Third Secretary, Embassy of India, Berlin, followed by Ms. Poonam Sharma, National President, FICCI FLO, who emphasized the need for collaboration in exchanges and training. “Women-led enterprises have the power to shape the future of global partnerships, and FLO is committed to enabling such opportunities,” she said.
Mr. Sebastian Krauß, Member of the Executive Board, BVMW, underscored the importance of SMEs in nation-building, noting: “There are immense possibilities for cross-border collaborations, and SMEs in both India and Germany can be powerful drivers of growth.”
Highlighting the strategic role of MSMEs in India’s economic transformation, Mr. Harkeerat Singh Randhawa, Second Secretary, Embassy of India, Berlin, spoke on Industrialisation 4.0 and the Make in India Mittelstand (MIIM) programme. He stressed that trade fairs and B2B platforms are vital for fostering meaningful partnerships. Mr. Magnus Graf Bülow, Rödl & Partner, further elaborated on MIIM’s role in supporting German companies entering India.
The delegation shared perspectives on enhancing business exchanges and sector-specific collaborations. Ms. Puja Garg, Senior Vice President, FLO, delivered the Vote of Thanks, while Ms. Rashmi Sarita, Executive Director, FLO, thanked the Embassy and led the presentation of tokens of appreciation to dignitaries.
The roundtable concluded with a networking reception, creating space for deeper one-to-one interactions and discussions on future partnerships.