During the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that now is the perfect moment for foreign investors to engage in India's growth journey. Speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and a business delegation in New Delhi, PM Modi called for participation in the 'Make in India' initiative and the emerging 'Make for the World' framework.

Highlighting India’s status as a burgeoning global trade and manufacturing hub, PM Modi stated, "This is the right time to join India's growth story," underlining the country’s strong foundations in democracy, demography, demand, and data. The Prime Minister noted the impressive skills of the Indian workforce, as Germany announced plans to increase the number of skilled worker visas from 20,000 to 90,000, further enhancing opportunities for collaboration.

Chancellor Scholz, who arrived in Delhi for a three-day official visit, expressed a desire to deepen defense ties between the two nations, stating, "Our overall message is clear, we need more cooperation, not less." He emphasized the importance of strengthening military collaboration during their inter-governmental consultations.

Following the conference, Chancellor Scholz is set to visit Goa, where German naval ships will make a scheduled port call as part of Germany’s strategic Indo-Pacific deployment.

Additionally, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal spoke at the conference, advocating for respect and understanding of mutual sensitivities to expedite India-EU free trade agreement talks, emphasizing the potential for swift negotiations if both sides can address concerns effectively.