We can see and feel the change: German business

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus on industry is an appropriate strategy as it forms the backbone of every economy, Ulrich Lehner, the president of Dusseldorf Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, adding that the change could be seen and felt.

"We can feel and see the change," he said on Thursday, ahead of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to India from October 4-6.

Lehner also remarked on the positive winds of change concerning the business environment in India and the resonance felt in Germany.

Coinciding with the first anniversary of the Make in India initiative launched by the Indian government and ahead of the visit of Chancellor Merkel to India for the third Intergovernmental Round of Discussions, a business seminar was organised on October 1.

The seminar was held in Dusseldorf, the engineering hub of Germany, in the state of North Rhine Westphalia by the Consulate General of India in cooperation with the Duesseldorf Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Consul General of India in Frankfurt Raveesh Kumar, in his address, emphasised the "ease of doing business", courtesy the efforts taken by the Indian government, and highlighted the measures launched to promote and facilitate the companies investing in India.

North Rhine Westphalia is the state with the largest share in the total trade volume with India (27 percent), amounting to almost one-fourth of the total trade between the two countries.

Over 70 participants attended the event, including leading manufacturing companies in the region, consultants and officials from the local chamber of commerce.