The 58th edition of the Annual Regional Meeting Chennai took place on 22nd November 2024, at Hotel HILTON, Guindy in Chennai. We were honoured to have Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Honourable Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Rajan observed that there has been a significant increase in the number of Indians working and studying in Germany. He further noted a rise in the number of German companies operating in India, as well as German-led programs focused on skill development and certification. Mr. Rajan emphasized the need for a substantial increase in these collaborations.
S Seetharaman, Chairman of Super Auto Forge, served as the Guest of Honour for the event. He shared positive experiences of working with German companies over the past 50 years, since the founding of Super Auto Forge in 1974. Michaela Küchler, Consul General of Germany in Chennai, was the second Guest of Honour.
In addition to the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, Ranjit Pratap, Chairman of the Southern Region Council, IGCC, provided an update on the Chamber’s various activities and the bilateral trade figures between Germany and India during the 2023-24 financial year. Ute Brockmann, Deputy Director General of IGCC, also addressed the gathering, sharing information on skill development and various initiatives organised by the Chamber in the areas of skill development and vocational education.
At the Annual regional meet, a panel discussion on “Global Capability Centres (GCCs): The Challenges of Setting Up and the Future of GCCS”. The panellists were Krishnaswamy Jambunathan, Vice President & Head ZF Tech Centre India, Dr. Vikas Prasad, MD, Webasto Roofsystems India, and Madhuri Bajaj, Senior Manager Ernst & Young. The panel discussion was moderated by Ms. Brockmann.
GCCs are pivotal in driving operational efficiencies, fostering innovation, and offering specialized capabilities that support various business functions at a global scale. The focus highlighted the dynamic collaboration between German and Indian companies, particularly against the backdrop of increasing investment and interest from German enterprises in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu.
Overall, it was a very insightful session with active participation from members and subsequently concluded over drinks and dinner. The event was attended by 200 participants.
Mallikarjuna S, Regional Director, IGCC Chennai gave a vote of thanks and thanked all the sponsors, delegates, and members of the Chamber for their active participation.
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