The India Desk of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Background to the India Desk in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

The Indian economy has been growing above average in the last decade. As one of the leading econimies of the world, India was able to overcome the effects of the financial and economic crises in 2009 in a very short period of time. In terms of purchasing power India is already the fourth-biggest economic nation. It is therefore increasingly attractive for internationally oriented companies in Hamburg and Germany. The 600 companies in Hamburg operating in Indian business report a constant increase in enquiries and offers. Furthermore, interest in India events staged at our Chamber of Commerce has increased markedly.

The increasing interest is already having a strong impact on the foreign trade statistics. Whilst German exports to India dropped by 1.9% from 2008 to 2009 to 7.997 billion Euros, exports from Hamburg to India grew by a spectacular 136% to 1.476 billion Euros. Part of this increase is accounted for by several Airbus deliveries to Indian airline companies. With regard to the shipping industry, trade in goods with India via the Port of Hamburg has also increased strongly: from 75,000 TEU in 2003 to over 100,000 TEU in 2006 trade increased to 150,000 TEU in 2008. Hamburg now has a 11.3% share in overall German foreign trade with India, making it one of the key German centres for business with India.

A response to the growing interest in India: our India Desk

In response to the growing interest from companies, the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce has established an India Desk which has been operating since November 2007. In close collaboration with our main partner in India, the German-Indian Chamber of Commerce, we provide practical assistance to both Indian and Hamburg firms. Business enquiries relating to India will benefit from being publicised more quickly and more effectively, with an improved offer of information about the Indian economy and more events being run to cover the rapid developments in India.

The India Desk services

• Preferential handling of inquiries for Indian business
• Brokering German-Indian business contacts
• Providing information about the Indian economy
• Providing advice to Indian and German companies
• Staging at least one major India event a year
• Exploiting the potential for information and contacts offered by the German-Indian Chamber of Commerce