New Delhi [India], July 31 : German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, on Thursday praised India as a "fabulous partner" and a world leader in technology, as European companies are closely watching developments in India, recognising its growing importance in the global tech landscape.
Speaking to ANI, the German Envoy emphasised the congruence of their interests in key areas such as semiconductor production.
He said, "Indian and German interests are very congruent. We want to have more share in the semiconductor production, and this is a great subject to discuss and compare notes."
"German companies are looking very closely at what happens in India as it is a world leader in technology and hence a fabulous partner," he added.
The ambassador also highlighted the need for stability in the market, particularly in the context of the ongoing tariff war. "The German government's stance is clear: we need stability in the market, not erratic behaviour. Therefore, it is high time the European Union and India sit together and agree on the Free Trade Agreement, which will be a game changer for many industries."
Ackermann also touched upon the impact of US President Trump's tariff policies on India, saying, "Germany and the European Union have been impacted as well by the American tariff policies and now we have to cope with the situation... and India must be looking at the situation and how to cope with it."
He further added, "Once the EU-India summit sets up, which is early next year, we will be able to have a draft agreement."
Recently, Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on India and an unspecified penalty for purchasing Russian oil. The new US tariffs on Indian goods are set to take effect from August 1.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, as the 3rd and 5th largest economies in the world, respectively, Germany and India share a robust economic and developmental partnership. Besides strong economic ties, both countries have a shared interest in upholding democratic values, the rules-based international order, and multilateralism as well as the reform of multilateral institutions. Both sides have also acknowledged the need to further deepen bilateral security and defence cooperation to jointly address global security challenges.