On the initiative of the Consulate General of India, Hamburg, an Indian Business Forum (IBF) was established on February 14, 2014 comprising Indian/Indian origin business persons, entrepreneurs and managers in the 4 states under the jurisdiction of the Consulate viz. Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig Holstein. Members of IBF are drawn from a wide spectrum of business areas like engineering, pharmaceuticals, logistics, consultancy, wholesale, retail, restaurant, management etc. IBF is a non-profit organization and has been officially registered at the local court (Amtsgericht) in Hamburg.

Objectives:

• Bring together Indian/Indian origin business persons on a common platform for better interaction.
• Provide an appropriate forum for Indian entrepreneurs to voice their concerns and address their genuine issues.
• Strengthening contact between Indian business community and German industry, Chambers of Commerce, trade associations, federations and government authorities.
• Enhance understanding of India and promote our products and services amongst German business circles.
• Offer business opportunities to members through networking events.
• Augment economic engagement especially trade and investment between India and Germany.
• Support Indian companies which want to set up offices/start activities in Germany.

Membership:

IBF is open for membership to all Indian/Indian origin business persons, entrepreneurs and managers in Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig Holstein. A nominal annual membership fee of Euro 100 is charged from members. At present, IBF has 28 members. Under the Chairmanship of the Consul General, following Board/Executive Committee members have been constituted:

President 
Dr. Trilochan Singh, 
MCO GmbH
Averdiekstr. 9, 
49078 Osnabrück
Tel: 0541-7504411 /22
Fax: 0541-750-4444
Email: t.singh@elephant-tn.nl

Vice President 
Mr. Mohan Bhardwaj,
Bhardwaj Pharma GmbH
Manhagener Allee 36
22926 Ahrensburg 
Tel: 04102-69549-0 Ext 23
Fax: 04102-2185194
Email: bhardwaj@bhardwaj-pharma.de

General Secretary 
Mr. Rakesh Veauli, 
Veauli Techniks GmbH
Beimoorkamp 6
22926 Ahrensburg
Tel: 04102-667167
Fax: 04102-667203
Email: rakesh@veauli.de

Treasurer
Mr. Bratin Saha
Hinduja Tech GmbH
Hemmingsteder Weg 10
22607 Hamburg
Mobile: 0172-4227309
Email: bratinsaha@gmail.com

Activities so far

• IBF held its first meeting at Hotel Park Hyatt, Hamburg in February 2014 during which Board Members were elected and formal registration was initiated.
• IBF members called on Shri J. Satyanarayana, Secretary, Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY), Ministry of Communication and Information Technology during CeBIT Fair in March 2014.
• IBF hosted Indian Ambassador Mr. Vijay Gokhale at Hotel Atlantik in June 2014 and interacted with him.
• IBF took part in a seminar on the topic "India after the Elections" organized by the Business Development and Technology Transfer Corporation (WTSH) of Schleswig-Holstein at Lübeck in June 2014.
• IBF held its second general body meeting in Hotel Grand Elysee, Hamburg in June 2014.
• IBF members attended the Senatsfrühstück organized by the Ministry of Economy of Hamburg in August 2014 during which they interacted with Minister Frank Horch.
• A video conference was held between IBF and Federation of Indian Exporters Organization (FIEO), New Delhi and Mumbai in August 2014.
• IBF members participated in the RE-INVEST Roadshow held in Hotel Park Hyatt, Hamburg in November 2014 and interacted with German companies and the Indian delegation.
• IBF hosted a delegation of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for a business meeting in November 2014 in Ahrensburg, Schleswig Holstein.
• IBF actively participated in the India Week Bremen held in November 2014.
• IBF members called on Director of Hamburg Chamber of Commerce in December 2014 and held discussions.
• IBF Board Members took part in the Make in India Roadshow held in Hannover Chamber of Commerce in March 2015 and gave interviews.
• IBF members called on Mrs. Nirmala Seetharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Government of India during Hannover Trade Fair in April 2015.
• IBF held its Annual General Body meeting in Hotel Park Hyatt, Hamburg in May 2015 and also celebrated its 1st Anniversary.
• IBF jointly with the Consulate and Chamber of Commerce, Lubeck organized an event "Business sector Opportunities in India" at the Chamber of Commerce, Ahrensburg (Schleswig Holstein) on November 5, 2015.
• IBF in association with the Consulate, Federal Association of SMEs (BVMW), Hamburg and Business Association of Wholesale and Foreign Trade (WGA), Hamburg organized an event "Challenges and Opportunities of Indo-German Business" at the Hotel Park Hyatt, Hamburg on November 6, 2015.
• IBF held a General Meeting on May 02, 2016 at the Consulate General of India, Hamburg to discuss and plan their activities for the FY 2016-17.

IBF offers a unique opportunity for its members to represent India in Germany. Besides serving as a platform for individual business promotion, IBF also caters to the larger role of promoting India especially bilateral commercial relations. The Consulate General of India, Hamburg invites Indian/Indian-origin business persons based in the states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig Holstein to join IBF. Interested persons may please contact the Board Members to complete joining formalities.

For further information, please visit IBF website: http://www.ibfhamburg.de