Make in India is a major new national programme of the Government of India launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 September 2014. It is designed to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property and build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure; with a focus on 25 sectors of the economy.

India’s successful participation as the Partner Country in Hannover Messe 2015 has generated significant interest among the German and Global business communities towards India. German investors have responded positively to the “Make in India” initiative which will help in building greater synergies with Germany’s robust engineering and manufacturing industry, experience in sustainable development, innovation and skills, and the new opportunities available in India.

Mittelstand companies are the backbone of the German industry and its economy. Most of them are family owned and are ‘small‘, yet they are world market leaders in their domain and possess cutting-edge technologies. There is a good potential for mobilizing their entry into the Indian market as their exposure to India remains limited. The renewed interest in India on part of the German business community, post-Hannover Messe 2015 provides us the opportunity to convert this intent into actual investments by facilitating and assisting the entry of these companies into the Indian market.

By nature, Mittelstand companies are highly risk averse and therefore reluctant to enter into ‘challenging’ markets. Though they possess high-end technology, they are not big investors. These companies not only require the necessary market information, but also information on the business processes involved in market entry. An intensive and sustained effort to engage them, going beyond publicity & information campaigns can significantly help in mobilizing these SMEs to Make in India.

Embassy of India, Berlin is therefore implementing a unique dedicated and strategic programme i.e., Make In India Mittelstand! (MIIM) – A Market Entry Support Programme for Facilitating Investments by German Mittelstand and Family Owned Companies in India. The programme will be implemented with the support of not only the concerned Central and State Government Ministries in India but also by engaging key industry partners who can support the companies in various aspects of market entry into India.

MIIM is a unique integrated platform for market entry services that combines services rendered by government, not-for-profit and private entities. It is truly a one-stop source for companies requiring market entry support services with the additional benefits of special workshops, networking, information exchange etc.

MIIM programme offers a wide range of business support services under a single platform. Services include strategy consulting, M&A, operational market entry support, tax & legal support, financial services, project financing, location services, technology collaboration, facilitation of approvals from central & state agencies and access to government agencies.

MIIM Programme has a built-in network of MIIM Programme Partners to support the participating companies with their services. Best-in-class partners have been selected after extensive due diligence.

MIIM is another milestone in ‘Ease of Doing Business‘ in India. MIIM will make the market entry of Mittelstand companies a smooth process. It is geared to address the divergent requirements of manufacturing, technology and service sector companies. Market entry of selected companies shall be closely supervised to ensure success.

The programme support will be for German Mittelstand companies that are at an advanced stage of Market Entry with a clear intent for localisation. However, companies that are still at an early stage of market entry but possess medium to long-term potential for localisation and manufacturing in India shall also be considered for support. Technology companies interested in partnering with Indian companies/institutions for technology tie-ups will also be supported under the programme.

MIIM programme is implemented and monitored by the Indian Embassy in Berlin with the support of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

MIIM Project Team

Ms. Rachita Bhandari, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Berlin, and Head of MIIM Project Team

Dr. Dinesh Antil, First Secretary (ITOU and Economic & Commerce), Embassy of India, Berlin

Mr Sreekumar N. Veetil, Marketing Officer, Embassy of India, Berlin.

Mr Manish Chauhan, Marketing Executive, Embassy of India, Berlin

supported by MIIM Knowledge Partner, Rödl & Partner are responsible for the day-to-day management of the MIIM Programme.

MIIM Steering Committee

Headed by Mr. Parvathaneni Harish, Ambassador of India to Germany, comprising of representatives of partner ministries and institutions shall monitor the programme and review the progress.