Dr. Gunther Wobser, President & CEO of LAUDA DR. R. WOBSER GMBH & CO. KG, joined a business delegation led by Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, on a visit to India in early February. LAUDA, a global specialist in precise temperature control, aims to expand its presence in India, the world’s most populous country with over 1.4 billion people.
The trip began with a strategic meeting in Mumbai between Dr. Wobser and Sandeep Sawant, Managing Director of Sawant Process Solutions, LAUDA’s key partner in India. The discussion focused on market developments and opportunities for closer collaboration.
As part of the 44-member delegation, Dr. Wobser visited Delhi, Pune, and Mumbai, engaging in company visits and high-level business discussions. Stops included JBM Group, Bucher Hydraulics, and Siemens, highlighting potential for Indo-German cooperation. “The dynamism of the Indian market is very impressive. The interlocutors are very self-confident and have a clear, ambitious vision of the future,” said Dr. Wobser. “Up until now, I was more of an Asia and China fan, but now I can see great opportunities for LAUDA to expand in the Indian market.”
In Pune, known as the ‘Oxford of the East’ with 265,000 students, the delegation explored partnerships with industrial leaders such as Bharat Forge and Marquardt. The visit concluded at the ‘Stuttgart meets Mumbai’ wine festival, where Dr. Wobser strengthened relations with Indian partners.
“This trip marks an important step for our commitment in India,” emphasized Dr. Wobser. “The excellent academic education, the dynamic development of Indian companies, and the cooperation with our partner Sawant Process Solutions offer promising prospects.” LAUDA plans to establish a presence in Pune this year.
Minister Hoffmeister-Kraut highlighted the economic significance of Indo-German collaboration, with India being an important trading partner for Baden-Württemberg. The region’s trade volume with India exceeded four billion euros in 2023, and around 350 companies from Baden-Württemberg are already operating in the country. The state’s partnership with Maharashtra, home to Mumbai and Pune, has been in place for a decade.