Right time to join India's growth story: PM at key meet with German Chancellor

PM Modi encouraged attendees at the event not only to explore business opportunities but also to experience India's rich culture, cuisine, and shopping.

In Short

• PM Modi invites global businesses to India's growth journey at the event
• He urges attendees to experience India's culture alongside business opportunities
• German Chancellor calls for global cooperation amid geopolitical tensions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024 in Delhi on Friday, called it the "perfect time" for global businesses to participate in India's growth journey. The conference was inaugurated by PM Modi alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

“This is the right time to be a part of India's growth story. When India’s dynamism meets Germany’s precision, when Germany's engineering pairs with India’s innovation, and when Germany’s technology combines with India’s talent, it creates a brighter future for the world, especially the Indo-Pacific region,” PM Modi said addressing the business leaders at the event.

PM Modi encouraged attendees not only to explore business opportunities but also to experience India's rich culture, cuisine, and shopping. "If you don’t take time to explore India beyond business, you'll miss out on many incredible things. I promise, you’ll leave happy, and your family will be even happier when you return," he added.

PM Modi also praised India-Germany relations and called German Chancellor Olaf Scholz his friend.

"Today's day is very special. My friend Olaf Scholz has come to India for the fourth time. It shows his focus on India-Germany relations. After 12 years, India is hosting the Asia Pacific Conference of German Business. On one side, the CEO forums meeting is going on, on the other side our Naval forces are doing exercise... At every level, India-Germany relations are strengthening. This is the 25th year of the India-Germany strategic partnership, the coming 25 years will give newer heights to this relationship," he said.

The conference arrives at a pivotal time for Germany and India. Last week, Germany introduced its "Focus on India" policy, signaling a commitment to deepen strategic ties with India. Referencing this, PM Modi noted, "We have mapped a ‘Viksit Bharat’ roadmap for the next 25 years. I’m pleased that during this crucial period, Germany has launched its 'Focus on India' initiative. Germany has also decided to increase the annual visa cap for skilled Indian workers from 20,000 to 90,000, which will further accelerate Germany’s growth."

Chancellor Olaf Scholz also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of global cooperation in an increasingly multipolar world that lacks a "global policeman" to maintain common rules. Highlighting tensions in the Middle East, Korean Peninsula, and the South and East China Seas, he urged global leaders to seek political solutions rooted in international law and the UN Charter principles.