The 7th German-Indian Business Summit (GIBS) is a premier platform designed to foster economic cooperation and strategic partnerships between India and Germany. Organized in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in Hamburg and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ports, and Transformation of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, the 2025 summit serves as a cornerstone for bilateral trade dialogue.

The primary objective of GIBS 2025 is to explore “Maritime, Logistics, and Sustainability.” The summit aims to move beyond theoretical discussion by focusing on actionable partnership models. These include joint ventures, knowledge sharing, training and skill development, and significant capacity building within the maritime sector.

Event Logistics

  • Date: Friday, June 13, 2025
  • Time: 09:30 AM – 01:00 PM
  • Location: Die Sparkasse Bremen, Universitätsallee 14, 28359 Bremen
  • Moderation: Mr. Sanjay Tambe (GIBS)

Detailed Program Schedule

The summit follows a structured agenda featuring high-ranking officials and industry experts:

  • 09:30: Registration and Welcome
  • 10:00: Welcoming Remarks by Mr. Pranjal Kothari, Member of the Board, Sparkasse Bremen.
  • 10:05: Introduction by Dr. Shazia Wülbers and Dr. Rajesh Mishra of GIBS.
  • 10:10: Welcome Address by Ms. Soumya Gupta, Consul General, CGI Hamburg (TBC).
  • 10:20: Inaugural Address by Ms. Maike Frese, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation, Bremen.
  • 10:30: Keynote Address by Dr. Katharina Berner, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
  • 10:45:Introduction to Maritime Logistics:
    • German Perspective: Dr. Dirk Matter, AHK Düsseldorf.
    • Indian Perspective: CII Institute of Logistics.
  • 11:05: Coffee Break & Networking
  • 11:20:Panel Discussion:“Collaborative Strategies for Strengthening Maritime Trade between India and Germany”
    • Facilitators: Dr. Deepak Das (GIBS) and Ms. Lakshmi Mohan (Country Head, CII-Germany).
  • 12:50: Conclusions by Dr. Deepak Das.
  • 12:55: Networking followed by Lunch.
  • 18:00: 2nd India Days Bremen Inauguration & Reception at the Bremen Townhall (by invitation only).

Expert Panelists

The core of the summit is a deep-dive panel featuring academic and industry leaders:

  • Dr. Alexis Papathanassis: Rector and Professor, Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences.
  • Prof. Dr. Assem Kinra: Professor, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
  • Capt. Arun Shankar: Director Strategy and Business Development, Columbia Group.
  • Mr. Ashutosh Baheti: CEO, Paras Defence Systems for Maritime Sectors.
  • Mr. Christian Norden: CEO, Balance Technology Consulting GmbH.

This summit is the flagship event of the 2nd India Days Bremen (June 13–15, 2025), a three-day celebration themed “Celebrating Heritage, Empowering Future,” which brings together culture, business, and community.