‘Efforts on for deeper ties between Tamil Nadu and Germany’

Efforts to strengthen Saxony-Tamil Nadu engagement discussed at Coimbatore GIRT meeting with German officials, industry leaders.

Efforts are on for a strong engagement between Saxony in Germany and Tamil Nadu, said K. Ramasamy, chairman of Roots Group of Companies and founder patron of the German - India Round Table, Coimbatore.

Speaking at a Joint - German Indian Round Table (GIRT) meeting of Coimbatore and Frankfurt chapters in Coimbatore city on Thursday, he said that both, Coimbatore and Saxony had a lot in common. There were a large number of small and medium-scale enterprises in both the places. A delegation from Germany visited Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu last year and efforts were on to strengthen the relationship between Saxony and Tamil Nadu.

According to S. Chandrasekar, head of GIRT - Coimbatore, and Corporate Director of Roots Group of Companies, the Coimbatore chapter of GIRT was actively engaged with the institutes in Germany. India was at the crossroads of growth and Coimbatore wanted to lead in contributing to the economic growth targets of the country and the State of Tamil Nadu. The focus was on engaging the industries here with those in Germany through the GIRT, he said.

Michaela Kuchler, the German Consul General in Chennai, said south India would have four chapters of GIRT and the Consulate was supporting all efforts for strengthening the industrial ties between Germany and the southern States.

Alexandro Callegaro, Head of the Economic Section at the German Embassy, and Johaness Weisser, president of GIRT - Frankfurt also spoke. The meeting focused on Germany’s role as a prime investment location for Indian companies in the EU, protection of foreign investments in Germany, tax aspects, and how foreign companies could do business in Germany.