Meeting Highlights: India Board Karlsruhe from March 20, 2024
On March 20th, the India Board Karlsruhe convened for an engaging meeting at Karls Kantine, drawing over forty members and partners. The event provided a platform for insightful discussions and exchanges on the diverse collaborations between Karlsruhe and India and the recent activities in India.
The meeting commenced with Martin Wacker, Managing Director of Karlsruher Marketing und Event GmbH, and Pascal Rastetter, Managing Director of Karlsruhe Tourismus GmbH, sharing their experiences from the "Stuttgart meets Mumbai" wine festival's 20th-anniversary celebrations. Their vibrant accounts highlighted Karlsruhe's successful representation and promotion at the event, garnering interest for the upcoming India Summer Days in Karlsruhe from July 19-24, 2024.
Petra Bender, head of the Welcome Center of the Karlsruhe Technology Region, recounted her impressions from delegation trips to India in 2023 and 2024, emphasizing the dedication of young individuals she encountered at various training institutions.
Andreas Höhner, principal of the Heinrich Hertz School, shed light on vocational training in India, identifying quality variations among training institutions and emphasizing the importance of additional qualifications for Indian graduates seeking employment in German companies.
Klaus Kallenbrunnen, an entrepreneur from Dinited GmbH, shared insights on skilled workforce acquisition, expressing the company's intent to establish a branch in India to ensure sustainable access to skilled workers.
Professor Jan Riel from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences highlighted research collaborations between Indian and German students, focusing on transforming industrial parks near Mumbai in areas such as water management, modern mobility concepts, and waste recycling.
Lord Mayor Dr Frank Mentrup recently evaluated the progress made in cultural, business, and scientific partnerships with India. He noted that, for many years, it seemed that the German side was always eager to collaborate with India, while there was more hesitation from the Indian side. However, according to Dr Mentrup, this has fundamentally changed. He believes it is now crucial to seize the opportunities presented by the relationships established over the years and work with Indian partners to develop innovative and forward-thinking projects.
The meeting concluded with networking opportunities, enabling the more than 40 attendees to forge connections and explore potential partnerships in collaboration and innovation.
If you're interested in attending our next India Board Karlsruhe Meeting, please contact us:
Sabine Dietlmeier
International Contacts
India Board Karlsruhe
+49 721 133-7341
Sabine.dietlmeier@wifoe.karlsruhe.de