Berlin to open business office in Bengaluru next year

Bengaluru: Mayor of Berlin and Senator Franziska Giffey who is leading a 25-member trade delegation to Bengaluru and Delhi, on Tuesday said Berlin will open a representative business office in Bengaluru next year. This will be the third such office after New York and Beijing, where Berlin has established offices already. The aim of this business office is to help promote bilateral trade between Berlin and Bengaluru.

In an exclusive interview to DH after signing a joint declaration with Priyank Kharge, minister of IT/BT, Science and Technology, government of Karnataka, said Berlin is committed to extend cooperation with Karnataka. "We are inviting companies from Karnataka, especially startups in the areas of FinTech, Deeptech, HealthTech, and artificial intelligence to invest in Berlin. We want to strengthen trade relations between the two cities and open up new opportunities in global markets," she said.

Berlin offers a huge opportunity for Indian companies to invest in the areas of deep tech, FinTech and artificial intelligence, she said adding currently, 41,000 Indians live in Berlin. Most Indians work in IT, banking, and finance, or study at Berlin universities. In 2023, 3,350 Indian students were enrolled at Berlin’s higher education institutions, with a total of 49,000 studying across Germany.

"Berlin and Bengaluru are a perfect match and both are hotspots for technological innovation, startups, and talent. Our agreement with the government of Karnataka lays the foundation for companies, research institutions, and startups in both regions to learn from each other, collaborate and grow together," Giffey said.

She said Berlin will collaborate with Indian startups and provide support including seed capital. Advisory services, networking with investors and co-working options will be provided. A special emphasis is placed on FinTech, AI, digital innovation, and life sciences. Women-led enterprises will be provided specially crafted incentives including financial assistance, and access to venture capital funding to promote diversity in the global tech sector.

Berlin is organising a five-day AsiaBerlin Summit, an annual platform to bridge Asia and Berlin’s startup ecosystems from November 24 to attract companies from Asian countries to invest in Berlin. There will be an exhibition and panel discussions on the opportunities to invest in Berlin and enhance exports and imports. Companies from Indonesia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, India, China, and Vietnam among others will participate, she said.

Giffey is accompanied by Stefan Franzke, CEO of Berlin Partner for Business and Technology, Jeanine Koch, CEO of medianet berlinbrandenburg e.V., and Berol Bicer, Executive Board Member of the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The delegation also includes companies and startups from the fields of digitalisation, energy, mobility, and GreenTech, seeking to enter new markets and build partnerships in India.

During the two days visit to Bengaluru, the delegation will visit Infosys campus, RV College of Engineering, IIM, Bangalore and hold meetings with industry bodies including NASSCOM.

For Berlin, India is an increasingly important trade partner. In 2024, Berlin’s exports to India reached approximately EUR 140 million, primarily consisting of electrical equipment, machinery, and data processing technology. Imports from India—mainly clothing, leather goods, and electronics—totaled around EUR 273 million.