India on the economic agenda
India is moving ever higher on the economic policy agenda of Berlin, Germany and the European Union. The Berlin Senate has designated India as a focus region in the Internationalisation Concept for the Berlin Economy 2025-2027. In early 2026, the EU and India announced the political conclusion of their free trade agreement. The Federal Government and the Länder are supporting European trade policy with their own initiatives. The AsiaBerlin Summit 2026 in November will also focus on economic and technological cooperation with India.
But what does this closer economic cooperation mean from a development perspective? Who benefits from new trade and investment opportunities – and who bears possible social and environmental costs? What impact does the cooperation have on employees, farmers, human rights, climate and the environment? And how can economic relations be shaped in such a way that they contribute to socially and ecologically just development?
These questions are the focus of our information and discussion event. Together with experts and voices from India, we want to critically examine the economic policy strategies of Berlin and the EU and make visible perspectives that are often neglected in the debate so far.
Zielgruppe
The event is aimed at representatives from politics and administration, development and civil society organisations, trade unions, academia and business, as well as anyone interested in shaping future relations between India, Berlin and the European Union.
programme
15:00 Uhr · Begrüßung und Einführung
Berliner Indienstrategie und Brüsseler Freihandelsabkommen aus entwicklungspolitischer Perspektive
Alessa Hartmann (PowerShift)
15:15 Uhr · Keynote
India: Economic Development and Labour Rights in Authoritarianism
Prof. Dr. Ravi Ahuja (Centre for Modern Indian Studies, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)
16:00 Uhr · Elevator-Speeches
What do India Strategy and Free Trade Agreements mean in different areas:
- Supply chains: Durchsetzung von Arbeitsrechten in der Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie Indiens und seiner Nachbarländer
NN - Kampf um Equality and Food Sovereignty
Sina Rauch (ASW) - Selbstorganisation indischer Rider bei Berliner Delivery services
Aju Gevarghese John (lawyer, activist, podcaster, delivery charge) - Zwischen Anspruch und Wirklichkeit: deutsch-indische Climate cooperation
Thomas Fritz (PowerShift)
16:15 Uhr · Parallele Kleingruppen
Zu den vier Themenschwerpunkten der Elevator Speeches
17:15 Uhr · Pause
17:30 Uhr · Kurzpräsentation der Kleingruppendiskussionen und Debatte
18:00 Uhr · Abschlusspanel
How can economic relations with India be made participatory and equitable?
- Guillaume Durand, Trade Officer in the Political Team of the European Commission Representation in Berlin
- Tamara Lüdke, SPD, Member of the Berlin House of Representatives
19:30 Uhr · Ausklang bei fairen Snacks und Getränken
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