India, Germany, and Europe are growing increasingly closer economically, technologically, and culturally. Frankfurt am Main plays a special role in this context as an international financial center, transportation hub, and home to a large Indian community. The India-Europe Business Day will take place again this year. On June 13, 2026, there will be an opportunity to exchange ideas in the Main metropolis. In conversation with Markus Hill, Ajit Ranade of INDIA EUROPE BUSINESS DESK explains why he has been committed to fostering ties between India and Germany for years, which industries will be particularly interesting in the future, and why Frankfurt serves as a natural springboard to Germany for many Indian entrepreneurs, professionals, and students.
Hill: Why are you so deeply committed to cooperation between India and Germany?
Ranade: Personally, I am convinced that India and Germany are natural partners and friends. Both countries share many values, complement each other’s strengths, and have learned from one another over many years.
I have been living in Germany and Europe for more than a decade and have been active in various social, cultural, and civic initiatives during this time. I have also organized numerous events and have been involved in Frankfurt’s local politics in the past. Through all these experiences, I have repeatedly observed that India and Germany are connected by a strong, positive relationship—characterized by mutual respect, trust, and interest in one another.
From an economic perspective, too, the opportunities are enormous. The number of Indian professionals and students in Germany is growing steadily. At the same time, both countries have much to offer each other—in trade, investment, innovation, and in exchanges between people, companies, and institutions.
It is precisely this conviction that drives my support for platforms like the India-Europe Business Day. The goal is to bring together companies, experts, policy makers, and community representatives to forge connections that can lead to long-term collaborations.
I also have a special personal connection: I come from Pune, a city often referred to as the “German capital of India.” Pune has long maintained close ties with Germany. German language instruction began there more than a century ago, and today numerous German and European companies are represented in the region. During my professional career in Pune, particularly between 2005 and 2012, I was able to observe firsthand how German Global Capability Centers and German investments in India have grown.
These experiences have greatly shaped my appreciation for the Indo-German partnership. They continue to motivate me to this day to do my small part to further strengthen this relationship through economic, cultural, and social engagement.
Hill: In which fields do you see the greatest potential for cooperation between India and Germany in the coming years?
Ranade: Traditional sectors such as the automotive industry, automotive suppliers, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, mechanical engineering, engineering, and industrial equipment have formed the backbone of economic cooperation between India and Germany for many years. In these areas, there is already a strong foundation that has grown over decades. At the same time, I also see considerable potential for growth, deepening, and new forms of cooperation in these sectors.
In my view, the defense sector is a particularly interesting field. India and Germany have begun to cooperate more closely in this area in recent years. We are already seeing important agreements and strategic partnerships between companies and institutions in both countries. This sector could become significantly more important in the future.
Another field with great potential is textiles and leather. India is known worldwide for the quality, scale, and efficiency of its textile industry. Countries like Germany and Italy, in turn, possess highly advanced manufacturing technologies. Technical textiles, in particular, therefore offer great opportunities: here, Indian production expertise and European technological and innovative strength can come together in a very meaningful way.
The leather industry also offers opportunities for knowledge transfer, technological modernization, and improved market access on both sides.
Furthermore, I see tremendous opportunities in startups and innovation-driven companies. German and Indian startups can learn a great deal from one another. Germany stands for engineering excellence, research, precision, and industrial quality. India brings enormous strengths in scaling, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship. When these capabilities are combined, solutions can emerge that are internationally competitive and create benefits for both sides.
Other key future sectors include semiconductors, energy, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and technological innovation. Overall, the future of Indo-German cooperation lies not only in further strengthening traditional industries but also in systematically expanding new sectors such as defense, technical textiles, sustainable technologies, startups, and innovation-oriented business models.
Hill: What significance does Frankfurt hold as a bridge between India and Germany?
Ranade: Frankfurt is a very interesting city. Although Frankfurt is only the fifth-largest city in Germany, it plays an extraordinarily important role—as the headquarters of the European Central Bank, as the location of many international banks, and as one of Europe’s most significant financial centers.
The city has been home to a large Indian community for decades. Frankfurt is also considered very open and welcoming, especially for expats. Many people feel safe, welcome, and well-integrated here. Unlike some more traditional German cities, Frankfurt has a very international character. People from many nations live and work here, numerous languages are spoken, and this cultural diversity makes the city lively, dynamic, and global.
Another key advantage is its connectivity. Frankfurt Airport is one of Europe’s most important passenger and cargo hubs. For many Indians, Frankfurt is their first point of arrival in Germany. A significant portion of travelers from India come to Germany via Frankfurt. Thanks to excellent flight connections, major Indian cities like Mumbai or Delhi can be reached in about eight to nine hours. This creates a special closeness to India that many people greatly appreciate.
Added to this is its central location within Germany and Europe. Whether traveling north, south, east, or west—many destinations are easily and quickly accessible from Frankfurt. This combination of internationality, economic significance, strong infrastructure, good accessibility, and an open atmosphere makes Frankfurt a special place to live, work, and build connections between India and Germany.
Hill: Thank you very much for the interview. We at FINANZPLATZ FRANKFURT AM MAIN and INVESTING IN INDIA are happy to support your interesting initiative. A special thank you to Andreas Heuberger at this point; he brought your initiative to our attention. We look forward to welcoming you again in Frankfurt and to stimulating discussions.
Information about the India-Europe Business Day 2026 (June 13, 2026):
Dialogue & Information:
FINANZPLATZ FRANKFURT AM MAIN on LINKEDIN – CHANNEL
FINANZPLATZ FRANKFURT AM MAIN on LINKEDIN – GROUP
FUND BOUTIQUES on LINKEDIN – CHANNEL
FINANZPLATZ-FRANKFURT-MAIN.DE, DACHLI Region & FONDSBOUTIQUEN.DE (2026) – Topics, Interests, Dialogue (Selection & “Snapshots”)
February 25, 2026, Frankfurt – “Frankfurt am Main Financial Center Meets Wealth Management”
(Markus Hill – Moderators: Christian Neuhaus – FINVIA, Sven Karkossa – Capitell Vermögens-Management AG, Noel Zeh – Wunderland Capital)
February 26, 2026, Frankfurt – “Forum for Digital Assets (FDV)”
Editorial Team – Special Feature “Frankfurt am Main Financial Center Meets Wealth Management & Digital Assets”
(Interviews / Guest Contributions, “Support” & MORE: info: markus-hill.com)
March 17, 2026, Frankfurt – Private Markets Excellence Forum – “Private Markets, Family Offices & Foundations – Due Diligence & Outlook 2026”
(Markus Hill – Fireside Chat: J. Paulo Dos Santos – Managing Director, VIRATIO GmbH)
Interview with Christian Hommens – SMART IMPACT INVESTING & PRIVATE MARKETS
Spring 2026: Investor Study “Preferences of Institutional Investors in Real Estate & Alternative Investments”
(Markus Hill – Moderator, Podcast: Sebastian Thürmer, “artis & x” – Example 2025)
April 16, 2026 – “köln let’s talk” – Bettina Timmler – Real Estate & Dialogue
(Media partnership)
May 12, 2026, Frankfurt: “Value Investing & Commodities & MORE”
(Markus Hill – Moderator & Short Introduction “Fund Boutiques & the U.S. Formula” – Alex J. Rauschenstein & Urs Marti, SIA FUNDS AG – FINANCIAL CENTER SWITZERLAND)
June 17, 2026, Zurich: Insights – “Family Offices & Fund Boutiques” – The Mountain Talks Summit – FUNDPLAT
(Presentation – Markus Hill)
November 10, 2026, Frankfurt: “Frankfurt am Main Financial Center Meets Liechtenstein Financial Center”
(Markus Hill – Moderator – LAFV Liechtenstein Investment Fund Association: Panel & Presentations)
Input, ideas, and suggestions on the above topics are welcome:
info@markus-hill.com / +49 (0) 163 4616 179
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