Hyderabad: The Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI), in collaboration with the German Indian Business Alliance (GIBA) and Innovation Hub RheinMain, launched the Indo-German Gateway Programme, a structured 12-month internationalisation initiative designed to help Telangana enterprises establish commercial operations in Germany and access wider European markets through the RheinMain region.
The programme was unveiled at a conference titled “From Telangana to Germany: Internationalisation Pathways for MSMEs” at FTCCI Federation House, Hyderabad. It brings together FTCCI, GIBA, and the RheinMain cities of Rüsselsheim am Main, Raunheim am Main, and Kelsterbach to create a structured pathway for Indian enterprises entering the German and European markets.
Programme Overview
The 12-month structured pathway offers maximum aggregate support of up to €25,000 per participating enterprise (subject to eligibility and milestone completion), covering market assessment, site visits, business establishment, and market development activities.
Telangana’s Industrial Growth Vision
Nikhil Chakravarthy J, IAS, Commissioner of Industries, Government of Telangana, highlighted Telangana’s shift from “Ease of Doing Business” to “Speed of Doing Business.” He outlined key competitive advantages:
Talent pool: 1.7 lakh graduates annually; 25% of India’s talent pool; third-highest net positive talent balance nationally
Industrial Policy 2.0: Sector-focused policies for aerospace and defence, lifestyle and leather, Global Capability Centres, data centres, electronics, and life sciences
Manufacturing ecosystem: 80% of components required by local industries manufactured within the state
Strategic incentives: Competitive packages for investments of US$25 million and above
Geographic advantage: Exceptional seismic stability, ideal for critical infrastructure
Commissioner Chakravarthy also announced the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2.0 (December 7–9) under the theme “Invest Telangana,” which will unveil next-generation industrial policies. Roadshows will soon promote Telangana opportunities to international investors, including in Germany.
Stakeholder Perspectives
Shri Madhav R. Sulphule, I.F.S., Regional Passport Officer and Head of Branch Secretariat, Hyderabad (Ministry of External Affairs), delivering the keynote address, emphasised India as an emerging strategic partner and noted Germany’s MSME strength in producing world-class products.
K.K. Maheshwari, President, FTCCI, stated that internationalisation has been a continuing priority, noting that this initiative transcends conventional trade visits by offering a structured pathway for overseas market establishment. He highlighted alignment between Telangana’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, automotive and mobility, aerospace, life sciences, and digital technologies with European partnership opportunities.
Srinivas Garimella, VP of FTCCI, underscored Germany’s reputation for engineering automation and precision engineering, emphasising that scale growth depends on innovation.
Pankaj Diwan, Co-chair, highlighted the India-Germany relationship: 75 years of diplomacy, 25 years of strong business partnership, 25% of Indian EU exports to Germany, and over 2,000 German companies operating in India. He noted the model’s unique city-to-city, government-transcendent approach.
Nirmal Raman Kannaiyan, CEO, and Selvakumar Periasamy, Chairman, German Indian Business Alliance, outlined opportunities for Telangana enterprises, noting Germany’s ageing population and youth shift toward AI and emerging technologies, driving demand for international collaborations.
Stephan Wittekind, CEO, Innovation Hub RheinMain, highlighted the region as an ideal landing point for Indian companies, with support from local leadership including Manfred Ockel, Mayor of Kelsterbach, who spoke to the region’s business ecosystem opportunities.