India Day - Business Forum
THE 12TH INDIA DAY – JUNE 16, 2026
WASSERTURM HOTEL COLOGNE, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON
Every year, around 150 professionals take part in our flagship conference, the India Day. Over the years, the event has become a cornerstone of the annual calendar for the India-focused business community. It offers participants a concise and up-to-date overview of key economic, political, and societal developments in and around India.
Our business forum provides both newcomers to the Indian market and experienced India specialists with valuable insights, engaging panel discussions, exclusive best-practice presentations, and a unique platform for exchange and networking.
A must-attend event for any entrepreneur operating in an international environment.
Agenda 2026
Arrival & Registration
Opening Perspectives – Why India Is Now in the Focus of the Economy
Dr. Manfred Janssen CEO, KölnBusiness
Nicole Grünewald President, IHK Köln
Shuchita Kishore Consul General, Consulate General of India Frankfurt
Keynote: India in a Changing World Order – Geopolitics, Economy, and New Alliances
Peter Hornung, Foreign Correspondent and Head of the ARD Radio Studio South Asia, New Delhi
The EU–India Free Trade Agreement – Gamechanger for Economy and Investment?
Sonia Prashar Secretary General - Federation of European Business in India (FEBI)
Dr. Katharina Berner Deputy Head of Division VD2 – Foreign Trade Policy South Asia,
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Oliver Wack Area Manager for East and South Asia, VDMA in Frankfurt am Main
Peter Hornung, Foreign Correspondent and Head of the ARD Radio Studio South Asia, New Delhi
Moderator: Thomas Weidlich, Partner, Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Networking Break
Best Practice: Business Spotlight – Success Strategies of German Companies in India
Tanvir Ahmed Managing Director / Head International Business, Harbauer India
Best Practice: Lessons Learned – Experiences and Insights from WILO India
Tushar Sheel Head of Strategic Business, AMEA Region, WILO
Best Practice: Four Societies, Many Life Cycles: The Experience of DKMS in India
Claudia Homrighausen Legal Counsel, DKMS Group GmbH
Lunch & Networking
Best Practice: Scaling Manufacturing in India – Opportunities for German Industry
Ingo Soeller CEO & General Manager, TWE OBT Pvt. Ltd.
Best Practice: From Mittelstand to Global Player – Growth Through the Indian Market
Dr. hc. Mario Schmidt Managing Director, Lingel Group
Panel: Doing Business in India – Market Opportunities, Market Entry, and Success Factors
Dr. hc. Mario Schmidt Managing Director, Lingel Group
Ingo Soeller CEO & General Manager, TWE OBT Pvt. Ltd.
Tanvir Ahmed Managing Director / Head of International Business, Harbauer India
Moderator: Rüdiger Schröder, Senior Vice-President Projects, Altios Germany GmbH
Networking Break
Panel: Global Talent from India – Outsourcing Business Processes to India
Andreas Flach CFO, BearingPoint
Konstantin Borek Group CEO, Borek Solutions Group
Sonam Rohella Associate Director, Luther Corporate Services Pvt Ltd, India
Moderator: Klaus Maier, Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter, Altios Germany GmbH
Impulse: Bundesliga Global – How Sports Markets Build New Bridges to India
Julia Farr Senior Project Lead International Tours & Business Opportunities, Borussia Dortmund
Closing & Networking
Kölsch, Contacts & Collaborations
Wrap-up with Kölsch & Snacks
Host: Dr. Michael Kostuj, Geschäftsführer, S-CountryDesk GmbH
Please note that some of the presentations and panel discussions will be held in German.
Organisers
Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is one of the leading German corporate law firms with 21 German and international offices. The law firm has extensive experience in doing business in India. Together with Indian partners, Luther offers comprehensive advice in all legal, tax-related, and regulatory matters in the subcontinent. Luther together with our French partner firm Fidal founded unyer, a global organisation of leading international professional services firms. The network firms generate an annual turnover of more than EUR 650 million and include over 2,500 lawyers and advisors in more than 10 countries in Europe and Asia.
Maier Vidorno Altios (MVA) is the leading trusted advisor and service provider assisting German speaking mid-sized (Mittelstand) Companies and Small Caps, from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, planning to enter or expand business in the South Asian Markets of India. MVA, headquartered in Cologne-Germany, employs 250 market entry experts and operational business specialists operating from 5 support centres across India (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune). The team supports all aspects of doing business in South Asia – Project Management, Recruitment, Market Research, Strategy Consulting, M&A, Restructuring, Interim Management and Corporate Services (Finance, Accounting, HR, Compliance).
Kindly supported by
Picture Gallery
Some of the companies whose representatives have already participated in a past India Day as speakers or panelists:
Registration
India Day on 16th of June 2026 from 9:00 am till 6:00 pm in Cologne, Germany
Wasserturm Hotel Cologne, Curio Collection by Hilton,
Kaygasse 2, 50676 Köln
The participation fee is EUR 250 p. p. excl. VAT. - 15% Early Bird Discount till 30th of April 2026. Registration deadline is 9th of June 2026. The invoice will be sent short after registration. Please note: In the case of cancellation after 05. June 2026 we charge the full participation fee. Substitute participants may of course be named.
Eventlocation
Wasserturm Hotel Cologne, Curio Collection by Hilton,
Kaygasse 2, 50676 Köln
https://www.wasserturm-hotel-cologne.com/de/homepage
Directions
GETTING HERE WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Take line 3, 4, 16, or 18 to the “Poststraße”
stop. From there, it’s only a 2-minute walk to the water tower.
PARKING
Coming from the A3, take the Köln-Deutz exit and change onto the A4 towards Aachen. At the next exit, leave the highway again towards Köln-Deutz and cross the bridge.
After the bridge, continue straight ahead and pass through the underpass. At the traffic light, turn into the first street on the right after the bus stop. Then turn right again into Kaygasse.
Contact us
Altios Germany GmbH
Siegburger Straße 231
50679 Koeln, Germany
E-Mail
Telefon +49 221 880 408 0
Telefax +49 221 880 408 11
Contact us
Altios Germany GmbH
Siegburger Straße 231
50679 Koeln, Germany
E-Mail
Telefon +49 221 880 408 0
Telefax +49 221 880 408 11