German foreign minister kicks off India trip with talks in Bengaluru

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul began his inaugural visit to India on Tuesday, with economic issues high on the agenda as India grapples with steep new US tariffs on its goods.

The foreign minister is kicking off his two-day trip in the southern city of Bengaluru, where economic prospects are likely to be the focus, ranging from research to skilled labour immigration.

Against the backdrop of Germany’s skilled labour shortage, Wadephul is set to meet German-language students at the Goethe Institute in the city to discuss their aspirations and career prospects.

The German government sees the world’s most populous country, with around 1.4 billion people, as a key source of talent to help address its labour shortfall. Bengaluru, known for its large concentration of IT companies, is often referred to as India’s “Silicon Valley.”

Also on the minister’s agenda is a visit to the headquarters of India’s space agency ISRO, where he plans to learn about developments at the satellite testing centre. The Indian government aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2040, with the first crewed flight expected in the coming years.

Wadephul is scheduled to visit Mercedes-Benz’s research and development centre to meet German business representatives. He also plans to tour an innovation park and SAP’s Bengaluru campus, where he will open a visitor centre and meet employees.

On Wednesday, Wadephul is scheduled to hold political talks in New Delhi, where relations with Russia and China are expected to be high on the agenda.

A spokeswoman for the German Foreign Office said that India, as the world’s largest democracy, is an indispensable key partner for Germany and a driver of global innovation and growth.

India’s growth and innovation dynamics offer great potential for diversifying trade relations and supply chains, for technology cooperation and for recruiting skilled workers, she said.

Wadephul’s visit follows a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Chinese port city of Tianjin on Sunday and Monday, which both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended, along with 18 other leaders.

Founded 24 years ago to promote security cooperation and economic ties, the SCO positions itself as a counterbalance to Western alliances, including NATO, but it could also gain importance in terms of economic policy.