MoU between UP Govt and German Indian Business Alliance

(GIBA) aims to prepare export-oriented enterprises for entry into German and

European markets

Lucknow, 02 Sept (HS): The Yogi government is continuously

making efforts to connect Uttar Pradesh's micro, small and medium enterprises

with global markets. In this sequence, the Indo-German Gateway program was

launched on Wednesday at the Invest UP office, Pickup Bhawan, Lucknow. On this

occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the MSME and

Export Promotion Department of Uttar Pradesh and the German Indian Business

Alliance (GIBA). The main objective of this initiative is to prepare the

state's export-oriented enterprises for entering the German and European

markets. This cooperation is non-financial, non-binding and non-exclusive in

nature.

Principal Secretary, MSME and Export Promotion, Shashi

Bhushan Lal, stated that the year 2026 is a historic year for India-Germany

relations, as this year marks 75 years of diplomatic relations and 25 years of

strategic partnership between the two countries. He noted that Germany is an

important trading partner for India in the European Union, with over 2,000

German companies operating in India. He explained that the state has a strong

base of manufacturing units and export-ready MSMEs, which have significant

potential for expansion into the European market. He proposed developing the

program as a 12-month structured pathway, covering stages such as enterprise

assessment, market validation, establishment, and post-entry support.

David Rendel, Mayor of Raunheim, Germany, said that this

partnership should be free of paperwork and practical. Its success should be

measured not by the number of programs, but by concrete results such as new

business agreements, the presence of Indian companies in Germany, and German

companies starting projects in Uttar Pradesh. He emphasized the need to develop

the Innovation Hub Rhine-Main as the institutional base in Germany and GIBA as

the coordinator on the Indian side.

The MoU will include cooperation on identifying priority

sectors for Uttar Pradesh, providing program information to eligible

enterprises, coordinating with state government schemes, and assisting

enterprises in their preparation. The modernization of the Ghaziabad Common

Facility Center (CFC) will also include the use of German technology, guidance

on quality, testing, and certification, and increased engagement with German

technology providers. Joint workshops will also be held on topics such as

German import standards, EU trade regulations, tariffs, and export

documentation. Subject to government approval, there is also a provision for

the establishment of an Indo-German MSME and Export Facilitation Desk. This MoU

will be effective for three years.

Invest UP CEO Vijay Kiran Anand, Special Secretary MSME

Shishir, Industries Commissioner KV Pandian, Assistant General Manager Ritesh

Saxena, UP Electronics Corporation MD Himanshu Kaushik, Innovation Hub

Rhein-Main CEO Stefan Wittekind and GIBA Chairman Selvakumar Periyasamy were

present at the event along with other representatives.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi