An Indian delegation comprising representatives from government institutions and the private sector visited Germany from 3-9 May 2026. Jointly organised by GIZ and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC), the programme combined a visit to IFAT Munich 2026 – one of the world’s leading trade fairs for water, recycling, and circularity solutions – with institutional meetings, technical exchanges, and high-level policy dialogue.
The delegation was organised as part of the GIZ project “Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Climate Finance in Rural India”, and focused on strengthening Indo-German cooperation in the areas of climate adaptation, water resilience, circular economy, waste management, and sustainable industrial development.
Exploring Innovation and Environmental Technologies at IFAT Munich 2026
The delegation began its programme in Munich with a visit to IFAT Munich 2026, where participants explored global innovations and technologies in the fields of water management, recycling, resource efficiency, and circular economy solutions.
As part of the visit, the delegation met with German Water Partnership (GWP) for an exchange on Germany’s water sector ecosystem, ongoing cooperation activities in India, and approaches to climate resilience and water management. A booth tour and networking interaction with member companies further enabled delegates to explore potential opportunities for future collaboration and technical exchange.
The delegation also engaged with Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) for an overview of Germany’s business landscape and emerging opportunities in the circular economy and water sectors. Discussions highlighted the regulatory and policy frameworks driving innovation and investment, while also offering insights into potential avenues for Indo-German business cooperation.
Strengthening Institutional and Business Cooperation
During IFAT 2026, the delegation had the opportunity to meet and exchange with the Consulate General of India in Munich. The exchange focused on growing opportunities for Indo-German cooperation in wastewater treatment, biogas, battery recycling, and critical minerals recycling.
Shatrughna Sinha, Consul General of India in Munich highlighted the importance of partnerships and joint ventures between Indian and German companies, particularly where German technological expertise can complement India’s scale and rapidly growing market demand. The exchange also touched upon opportunities emerging from the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the increasing relevance of circularity and sustainable industrial development for both countries.
A further institutional engagement took place with IHK (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) for Munich and Upper Bavaria, where delegates introduced were introduced to the role of Chambers of Commerce in Germany and their work in supporting industry, innovation, internationalisation, and sustainability.
The discussions included current developments related to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and broader sustainability-related trends and measures affecting global trade and industry. The interactive format enabled delegates to exchange perspectives on carbon markets, implications for Indian businesses, and opportunities for deeper Indo-German cooperation in sustainable industrial transition.
Research and Knowledge Exchange on Climate Resilience
The delegation also engaged with leading German research institutions working on climate resilience and sustainable resource management. At the Technical University of Munich (TUM), participants engaged with researchers from the TUM Nexus Lab to understand the water-food-energy nexus approach and integrated resource management strategies for sustainable development. The session highlighted ongoing research and initiatives related to water resilience, climate adaptation, and systems-thinking approaches to complex environmental challenges.
In Berlin, the delegation met with researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) for discussions on climate risks, adaptation pathways, and policy implications for the agricultural sector. The exchange also explored PIK’s work on carbon pricing and carbon taxes, including their broader economic and sectoral implications for industry, trade, and decarbonisation pathways. The session provided valuable perspectives on how climate policy instruments can influence economic systems while supporting broader decarbonisation and resilience objectives.
Practical Insights into Water and Waste Management
As part of the Berlin programme, the delegation visited GBAV Gesellschaft für Boden- und Abfallverwertung mbH for an exchange and facility tour focused on environmental remediation and waste management practices.
The session covered the initiatives across KF Group, including water management and waste management solutions by Harbauer and GBAV, among other areas of expertise. Interactive discussions delved into the technical aspects of environmental remediation, highlighting interesting differences and commonalities between processes in India and Germany.
Delegates also gained insights into GBAV’s processes for converting polluted materials into reusable mineral raw materials, followed by a facility visit to observe remediation and contaminated soil treatment practices in operation.
Strategic Dialogue on Climate Resilience and Environmental Technologies
A highlight of the programme was a high-level Sector Dialogue on Climate Resilience and Environmental Technologies at the premises of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin. Organised by BMZ and IGCC, the event brought together representatives from Indian and German government ministries and from the private sector working in climate resilience, circular economy, water management, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate finance in both countries.
Advancing Indo-German Collaboration for Climate Resilience
The visit highlighted the strong and growing potential for Indo-German cooperation in addressing shared environmental and climate-related challenges through innovation, policy dialogue, research collaboration, and private sector engagement.
By bringing together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and research institutions, the programme facilitated meaningful exchange on climate adaptation, circular economy, and sustainable technologies while laying the groundwork for future partnerships and long-term cooperation between India and Germany.
