New Delhi: India and Germany have an opportunity to not just forge a mutual win-win but to create a partnership that is a role model for the free world, said Barun Das, the Managing Director and CEO of TV9 Network, while delivering the Opening Address at News9 Global Summit at the iconic MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany on Thursday.
He pointed out that the global order is undergoing dramatic transformation at an unprecedented pace leading us to a sort of uncertainty. Therefore, the need for the two countries to come together has never been greater, Das added.
“This year marks the completion of 25 years of strategic relations between India and Germany. Under the leadership of India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and successive German chancellors, the bilateral relations have touched new highs,” he underlined.
India-EU FTA a ‘transformational pact’
In his speech, Das highlighted the importance of robust India-Germany relations, while stating that Germany is India’s largest trading partner in the European Union with an annual trade of over 30 billion dollars.
“The EU, on the other hand, is India’s largest trading partner as a bloc. Therefore, the India-EU free trade agreement that is currently being negotiated will be a transformational pact.”
Talking about the India-EU FTA, he said that various estimates suggest that the EU’s exports to India could increase by 50 to 60 per cent while India’s exports to the EU could rise 30 to 35 per cent. “Once the FTA is signed, the total bilateral trade could double to almost 258 billion dollars by 2028.”
Das emphasised how German firms are bolstering ties with India. He said, “Germany’s Mittle-shtaand companies are already at the forefront of leveraging this relationship. There are more than 150 German global capability centres or GCCs in India today and more are coming up. German companies are no longer looking at India as a low-cost destination. In fact, their GCCs are driving the next wave of global innovation across digital engineering, Industry 4.0, healthcare and autonomous driving, among others.”
Das stressed that Germany’s Federal Minister of foreign affairs Yohan Wadafull who visited India recently reiterated India’s importance as a strategic partner for Germany across the board in the Indo-Pacific and how it plays a crucial role in the system of global partnerships. He added that while hosting Wadafull, PM Modi was unequivocal when he said that as vibrant democracies and leading economies, India and Germany see immense potential to scale up mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, technology, innovation, sustainability, manufacturing and mobility.”
Das signed off his address with the lines of famous German-Swiss poet and Nobel laureate Hermann Hess: “You have to try the impossible to achieve the possible.”
‘India’s unique ability to leapfrog to modernity’
Earlier, at the beginning of the address, he shared about his conversation with a German co-passenger on a flight to Frankfurt. The German man told him that he had been reading about the “new India” and asked for his views on what he thought was the most profound change in recent years.
“It was a rather intelligent question and it got me thinking for a moment. As I told the gentleman, the answer is India’s unique ability to leapfrog to modernity while remaining true to the core values of Indianness, he gave me a quizzical look, so I explained. Indianness is all about inclusivity, taking everyone together. A principle that the whole world is now realising is the only way to achieve peace, progress and prosperity and these must go hand in hand, while including everyone.”
He pointed out that India’s adoption of wireless and digital technologies showcases its quantum leap to modernity. Das said over 20 billion transactions took place in August 2025 on India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system. “The poorest of poor Indians can not only transact on their smart phones but they can also get information and services, which are vital to their livelihood.”
Theme of the summit and its importance
The summit comes at a time when the geopolitical landscape is changing drastically and there has been a massive shift in the global order, while security and economic concerns are rising. It also marks the 25th anniversary of the Indo-German strategic partnership. Held under the theme ‘Democracy, Demography, Development: The India–Germany Connect’, the summit seeks to further enhance bilateral cooperation across strategic, economic, and cultural domains.
Focusing on defence cooperation, technology transfer, climate solutions, and talent mobility, the summit aims to build robust partnerships between two of the world’s leading democracies.
A number of sessions exploring a slew of crucial issues — from global defence ecosystems and startup collaboration to energy transition, and women’s leadership — will be conducted. Policymakers, corporate leaders, startup founders, defence experts, and cultural figures will speak at the occasion. The participation of leaders from Baden-Württemberg, along with senior Indian ministers and industry stalwarts, underscores the summit’s importance and high-level engagement.
The summit will provide a dynamic platform for dialogue, investment, and long-term collaboration. By bringing together leaders, investors, and policymakers, the summit aims to shape a shared future based on innovation, inclusion, and mutual growth.