India and Germany: bilateral trade, German investment and the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership

Country Focus Background Economy & Banking

India and Germany: bilateral trade, German investment and the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership

Background

The Embassy of India in Berlin records that, on figures from Destatis, the German Federal Statistical Office, Indo-German bilateral trade touched an all-time high of US$ 33.40 billion (+0.36%) with exports from India at US$ 15.09 billion and imports to India from Germany at US$ 18.31 billion in calendar year 2024. India was Germany's 23rd largest trading partner in 2024, while Germany was the 8th largest trading partner for India in 2024-25. On Bundesbank figures, Indo-German trade in services reached a record US$ 17.03 billion. Germany is the 9th largest foreign direct investor in India with a cumulative FDI of US$ 15.11 billion from April 2000 to March 2025, and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce counts more than 2000 German companies active in India. India and Germany have two Fast Track Mechanisms, one in each country, for resolving issues faced by investors in each other's country. Germany has been an important development cooperation partner since 1958, and under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership it has committed to providing €1 billion annually, comprising reduced interest loan, grants and technical assistance, up to 2030.

Indo-German bilateral trade, calendar year 2024: US$ 33.40 billion Exports from India: US$ 15.09 billion Imports to India from Germany: US$ 18.31 billion Germany's rank among India's trading partners: 8th largest trading partner for India in 2024-25 Germany's rank as a foreign direct investor in India: 9th largest foreign direct investor Cumulative German FDI in India, April 2000 to March 2025: US$ 15.11 billion German companies active in India: more than 2000 German companies active in India Annual commitment under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership: €1 billion annually

Why it matters for exams: A country's relationship with India is the part of any Country Focus an Indian examiner is most likely to test, and the FDI rank, the trade ranks and the year development cooperation began are the three figures that recur.

Kerala PSCUPSCBank

2 October 2026 Source: Embassy of India, Berlin Updated 10 October 2026

In plain words

Destatis The German Federal Statistical Office — Germany's official statistics agency, and the source of the bilateral trade figures quoted here.

FTM Fast Track Mechanism — A government-to-government channel for sorting out problems reported by investors from the other country.

GSDP Green and Sustainable Development Partnership — The India-Germany framework under which German development funding for climate, energy, water, forests, cities and agriculture is channelled.