New Delhi, July 30, 2025 — The Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) New Delhi, in collaboration with global logistics leader Rhenus Group, hosted a high-level, invite-only business roundtable titled “Connect India, Connect Europe: Building Seamless Supply Chains” at The Oberoi, New Delhi. The event brought together senior leaders from the automotive, engineering, pharma, and advanced manufacturing sectors to discuss solutions for strengthening India-EU trade flows and logistics infrastructure.
Strategic Dialogue Between Nations
The roundtable began with opening remarks from Vivek Arya, Regional CEO of Rhenus Logistics, who emphasized Rhenus Group’s strong global presence and commitment to India-Europe trade. Arya highlighted Rhenus Group’s significant investment in the Wesel Facility, Gateway to Europe, underlining the company’s scale and vision for interconnected global supply chains.
Sebastian Borchmeyer, First Secretary - Economic and Global Affairs at the German Embassy in New Delhi, set the tone for the session by recognizing the diversity of sectors represented. He addressed the complexity of modern supply chains and underscored the importance of international cooperation, economic integration, cost-effectiveness, and the use of real-time data and expert collaboration. Sebastian noted the deepening relationship between India and Germany, referencing the presence of over 2,000 German companies in India and 750 Indian companies in Germany, spanning industries from automotive to renewable energy.
Institutional Collaboration and Learning
Stefan Halusa, Director General of IGCC, called for a coordinated approach across ministries to support an Indo-German logistics ecosystem. Echoing this sentiment, Raghu Babu Nukala, Programme Director at GIZ, highlighted a pilot initiative involving two Indian cities adopting German-style supply chain models as part of a larger GIZ project aimed at scalability and local implementation. At the logistics roundtable, Shivani Chaturvedi, Regional Director at IGCC moderated the session and emphasized the importance of hosting such dialogues to promote smart logistics solutions and support the industry.
Case Studies and Rhenus’ Vision
A comprehensive presentation by Namrata Sharma (Director, Special Projects) from Rhenus highlighted the company’s robust capabilities, backed by $35 billion in revenue and subsidiaries including Rhenus Logistics, Remondis, Saria, and Transdev. Ulrich Schorb, CCO of Warehousing Solutions (Intercontinental), detailed how Rhenus is deploying advanced warehousing and real-time logistics solutions to bridge continents and reduce supply chain friction.
Industry Voices: Challenges and Opportunities
During the open discussion, the industry stakeholders shared their insights and concerns regarding:
- Regulatory challenges in the EU and geopolitical pressures.
- Support in faster implementation of supply chain solutions in collaboration with Rhenus.
- The need for cost-effective and competitive logistics solutions and confirmed ongoing discussions with Rhenus.
- The interest in partnering with Rhenus, citing their global operations across 40 countries.
- A key OEM supplier, raised concerns regarding unpacking and repacking logistics, seeking innovative solutions.
- Challenges in integrating SME in Europe ecosystems
- EU Trade agreement and regulatory challenges
Looking Ahead
Wanted session on compliance in import-export and customs in collaboration with IGCC.
The roundtable concluded with closing remarks by Vivek Arya, who reiterated Rhenus Group’s commitment to building resilient, seamless, and digitally enabled logistics networks between India and Europe. A networking session over high tea provided attendees the opportunity to connect further and explore potential collaborations.
Key Themes Addressed:
- Warehousing & Distribution
- Trade Facilitation
- Digitalization & Real-time Visibility
Conclusion
This roundtable served as a vital platform for cross-sectoral dialogue, reinforcing the need for collaborative frameworks, technology-driven logistics, and stronger Indo-German partnerships to power the next phase of global trade. As bilateral trade continues to evolve, such engagements will play a critical role in shaping policy and infrastructure for a more efficient global supply chain ecosystem.
