NRW-Minister of Economics Andreas pink at the beginning of February, was the maintenance man with a business delegation in India to explore opportunities for cooperation. And is excited to come back, as he told DW.
DW: India is at 20. The trading partners of North Rhine-Westphalia. How big is the interest in contacts and exchanges with you and your Delegation on your big trip through India?
Andreas Pinkwart: That was surprisingly large. In New Delhi I had the opportunity to speak with the trade, such as the energy Minister of India on key issues and there was a lot of interest in a more in-depth cooperation. In Bangalore, in South India, the “Silicon Valley of India”, says a number of Start-ups participate in a “Road-Show” and will want to come in may, according to the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. We try to attract talent from India as a Partner for our digital strategy in North Rhine-Westphalia, when it comes to networking, Start-ups, SMEs and industry.
In Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal in Eastern India, we have experienced in discussions with chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Finance Minister Mitra two very ambitious politicians who want to bring their state with about 90 million inhabitants, it is not necessarily economically to the front. We have signed an agreement with them about a more in-depth cooperation. West Bengal is very much interested in investments, close cooperation in professional qualification and in science. I have argued that young scientists from Germany have come to the excellent universities and research institutions. The was very taken up positively.
I have by the way also for the desire of chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the case of Lufthansa, a direct flight from Kolkata is to be furnished to Germany. It now talks between the parties Involved.
Pinkwart: Bureaucratic hurdles in India can be overcome
German companies are already in West Bengal present. What you have experienced during the Visits there?
We visited, for example, one of our “hidden champions” (unknown world market leaders) and the victory of the country, has taken over ten years ago, a medium-sized mechanical engineering company. The somewhat simpler parts of more complex machines for the paper and steel industries are now manufactured in the vicinity of Calcutta. You have a long drive to reach the commercial area and from a German perspective, much appears to be on the road more of a little messy. But then you begin to see a well organised factory site, and applies to highly motivated employees who will regularly come to the victory of the country and there is further formed, and the machines in the world with build. This has shown me again that in India, there are highly motivated people, as well as great need of vocational training, especially in medium-sized commercial and productive area.
West Bengal Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee wants to attract investors
“West Bengal as a springboard”
What incentives do you see for German and NRW companies to invest in West Bengal?
If we want to develop the Asian markets for us, West-Bengal also serve as a base and springboard to produce there and export it from there, not least in the ASEAN countries. Therefore, I want to bring again next year at the economic summit in West-Bengal travel, and entrepreneurs who want to make use of this locational advantage.
What is the famous bureaucratic obstacles (“red tape”), which make it difficult to do business in India?
There is. But the modi government has introduced as a means of special arrangements, the keyword “fast track”, which is to say: If there are problems, you can present directly at the Central level, and takes care of a quick solution.
Back to NRW: How do you imagine the cooperation with the Indian Start-ups?
That is to say: We understand a lot of production and processes, and the Indians of the Software and together we could build the factory 4.0 is easier, from my point of view not applicable. Because we are on the subject of Software already. But still, I see plenty of opportunities here to complement the development of the Software and to assist India in the modernization of production. For this purpose, we need to create formats of exchange and fair cooperation. Meeting is an important beginning, working together is the success.
There is also a vocational training to become an it specialist. Why don’t we do that in India? We could carry out in cooperation with German companies is the theoretical training in India and the practical here in Germany, and who wants to stay in Germany, here, who want to go back. I thought this was a great opportunity, because we have in the SME sector especially in the field of computer science is a huge demand, also in the framework of the dual training.
Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart (FDP) Minister of economy, Innovation, digitalization and energy in North Rhine-Westphalia