Goyal brought a 100-member team to Germany. What founders can do

Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal spent 22 to 24 October 2026 in Germany. He led a 100-member group of Indian businesses and startups. The trip was about trade and investment, but it also gives something to Indians who already live here and run a business.

Here is what happened, which sectors matter, and what you can do next.

What happened during Piyush Goyal's Germany visit?

Goyal held talks with Katherina Reiche, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy. He also met Levin Holle, Economic and Financial Policy Advisor at the Chancellery (the German Chancellor's office).

He met the CEOs of Siemens Healthineers, Bertelsmann, Volkswagen and Škoda Auto too. He also held talks with the Fraunhofer Society.

The most useful news for you is smaller. Goyal opened the India Centre in Germany at the German Council on Foreign Relations. Its aim is to strengthen business, research and cultural ties.

Which sectors are in focus?

The visit covered six areas:

• Advanced manufacturing
• Renewable energy and clean technology
• Electronics and microelectronics (very small electronic parts, like chips)
• Green mobility (cleaner transport, such as electric vehicles)
• IT and artificial intelligence
• Healthcare and pharmaceuticals

If your business touches any of these, the visit is about your field.

What did FICCI pitch to German companies?

FICCI is an Indian industry body. Its Secretary General, Anant Swarup, pitched India as a good place to invest. His point was simple. German precision engineering and technical skill fit well with India's size, skilled workers and competitive costs.

He also spoke about India's large untapped buying power. He named electronics, automobiles and chemicals as areas where Indians can still buy much more.

Why does the India-EU trade deal matter?

India and the EU are finalising a Free Trade Agreement, or FTA. That is a deal meant to make trade between the two sides easier. The target is to sign it in December 2026, and it could start working by early 2027. As of October 2026, it is not signed yet.

The numbers are big. Goods trade between India and the EU was €118.4 billion in 2025. EU imports from India were €69.5 billion of that. Germany is India's largest EU trading partner.

What does it mean for Indian entrepreneurs already in Germany?

You may be the person both sides need. A German firm may want to sell or build in India. An Indian firm may want to enter Germany. Each may not know the other's market well.

If you know both, you can be a bridge partner. That means you help one side find customers or partners on the other side. The visit pushes for the FTA to turn into real industrial investments. That is where bridge partners can find work.

The Fraunhofer talks point to openings in deeptech (new technology based on hard science), smart manufacturing and microelectronics. If you work in these areas, a clear offer will get attention.

What does it mean for professionals?

More cooperation should mean more demand for Indian talent, especially in engineering, IT and green tech. German companies want to spread their supply chains across more countries. They also want to bring Indian skills into their research teams (R&D).

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How can you use this now?

Two practical steps:

1. Contact the India Centre in Germany. It sits at the German Council on Foreign Relations. It is meant as a direct hub for business support and networking.
2. Look at Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI). It hosted an India-Germany Investment Roundtable during the visit. Its website is a good place to learn about funding, setting up and expanding in Germany.

Keep your message short and clear. Say what you do, which sector you are in and what kind of partner you want.

What would I do?

A minister's visit does not create deals by itself. Big announcements don't always lead to real business. The India Centre only helps if you show up with a specific offer.

So write your one-page pitch this week. The FTA may be signed in December, and early contacts are worth more than late ones.

Cover photo: Kampus Production on Pexels