NEW DELHI : Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal held high-level discussions with Mr. Boris Rhein, Minister-President of Hessen, Germany, and Mr. Manfred Pentz, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Debureaucratisation, along with a delegation representing leading German businesses, to explore new avenues for strengthening economic and technological cooperation between India and the German state of Hessen.
The discussions focused on expanding collaboration across a broad range of emerging and high-growth sectors, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), clean energy, research and development, data centres, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), pharmaceuticals, chemicals, advanced manufacturing, fintech, deep-tech and skilling.
Highlighting the growing strategic complementarities between India and Hessen, Shri Goyal said that the two sides have significant opportunities to build deeper partnerships in trade, technology, investment, innovation and industrial cooperation. He emphasised that stronger engagement between Indian and German businesses can unlock new opportunities across technology-intensive and knowledge-driven sectors.
Hessen offers a particularly strong ecosystem for such cooperation, with Frankfurt serving as a major European financial and digital hub and the Rhine-Main region emerging as a key centre for data infrastructure. More than half of Germany’s large-scale data centres are located in the Rhine-Main region, while Frankfurt is home to the DE-CIX internet exchange.
The state is also strengthening its capabilities in AI, quantum computing and deep-tech. In May 2026, Hessen inaugurated an AI and Quantum Computing Application Centre in Frankfurt aimed at connecting companies, research institutions and start-ups and accelerating the translation of advanced technologies into market-ready applications.
The discussions also highlighted opportunities in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, where Hessen has a strong industrial base and hosts numerous international companies. The sector is one of the state’s key industrial strengths, supported by substantial R&D capabilities and a highly skilled workforce.
Clean energy and future technologies emerged as another important area of potential cooperation. Hessen is currently advancing major initiatives in next-generation energy technologies, including laser-based nuclear fusion research, reinforcing its ambition to become a leading European location for cutting-edge energy innovation.
The meeting assumes added significance in the context of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to create new avenues for businesses on both sides by improving market access and strengthening the framework for trade and investment. The agreement can provide an important platform for Indian and Hessian companies to expand partnerships, integrate into global value chains and explore new investment opportunities.
The engagement also underlined the potential for greater cooperation in Global Capability Centres, digital technologies, fintech, semiconductor and deep-tech ecosystems, advanced manufacturing, R&D and talent development. With India’s expanding technology and manufacturing capabilities and Hessen’s strengths in finance, research, industry and digital infrastructure, the two economies can complement each other across multiple emerging sectors.
The discussions reaffirmed the shared objective of translating the strong India–Germany relationship into greater business-to-business engagement, technology partnerships, investment flows and innovation-led growth.
Shri Goyal said India looks forward to working closely with Hessen and its business community to leverage the new opportunities emerging from the India–EU FTA and build a stronger, more resilient and future-ready economic partnership.
India and Hessen are poised to deepen their partnership across trade, technology and investment—creating new opportunities for businesses, strengthening innovation ecosystems and advancing shared economic growth.
