By Ewald König

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For India, Hamburg is the German, even the European capital - at least for a while. “There is no such series of events in all of Europe as during India Week in Hamburg,” emphasized the German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, at the opening of the 11th edition of India Week.

India is the most populous country in the world. Its economy is the fifth largest in the world. The growth rates are enormous. Hamburg has managed to become a European hub for India. Although the Indian embassy is located in Berlin, Hamburg provides the stage for India Week, which dominates the Hanseatic city every two years, including curry flavour. From politics and diplomacy to business and science to culture and sport: India Week offers more than seventy events throughout Hamburg between June 23 and 29.

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Two ambassadors and a movie star

Hamburg City Hall was diplomatic ground at the opening of the week; close German-Indian relations and incredible potential were the main topics of the opening speeches at the Senate reception, delivered by Germany's Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, and India's Ambassador to Germany, Ajit Gupte,

and by SPD politician Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics and Innovation. As keynote speaker, Indian film actress and women's rights activist Shabana Azmi (160 films) spoke about the role of culture as a peacemaker and universal language.

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Young and dynamic population

In addition to culture, India Week focuses on tangible topics such as the migration of skilled workers from the country with a young and dynamic population. The Hamburg Welcome Center, the Indian Chamber of Commerce (IGCC), the Senate Chancellery, the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, the Hamburg Representative Office Mumbai and the East Asian Association (OAV) show how to attract Indian specialists in practice. Artificial intelligence, digitization and technology transfer, practical cooperation, export credit and investment guarantees, as well as social change, legal development in India, the role of women in sustainable industries and the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in the labor market will also be discussed.

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Lighthouse Project

For State Councillor Liv Assmann, Hamburg's representative to the Federal Government, the European Union and for Foreign Affairs, India Week Hamburg is a lighthouse project of the German-Indian Partnership. “Especially in times of global uncertainty, formats such as this are more important than ever in order to create trust, increase synergies and develop joint answers to global challenges. ”

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