With Sylvester approaching a year is coming to an end, which has been very active from the perspective of German-Indian Round Table (GIRT). In its pursuit to contribute to Indo-German economic relations GIRT this year has initiated several new chapters in Germany and India. In Hamburg – apart from its regular bi-monthly meetings and collaborations with institutional partners – GIRT successfully co-organized an “India Week” for the fourth time in a row. The India Week in Hamburg attracted some 12,000 visitors and witnessed several events from socio-economic and cultural spheres that received very positive feedback from their respective audiences.

This upswing in Indo-German and Indo-Hamburg relations is set continue the next year when India will celebrate an “India Year” (May 2012 – March 2013) in Germany to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. As a matter of great pleasure the “India Year” will be inaugurated at the 823^rd Port Anniversary Festival (“Hafengeburtstag”) in Hamburg in May 2012, where India will be the partner country.

German-Indian Round Table (GIRT) Hamburg takes pleasure in inviting its participants and other interested persons to its next meeting on January 9^th, 2012 where Mr. Michael Wendt will share with us the planning of the upcoming festival. Mr. Wendt has been appointed by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg to organize the country presentation at the Hamburg Port Anniversary Festival. The meeting will also provide a good opportunity to our participants to discuss with him the possibility of organizing some other (business-related) India events during the Port Anniversary Festival.

In addition, we will of course also dedicate some time to other current issues related to Indo-German relations, to share thoughts and do “networking”.

The event will take place on Monday, 9^th Jan. 2011, at 18:30h in Hotel Baseler Hof (Esplanade 11, 20354 Hamburg).

As usual, the meeting takes place in the form of a “Stammtisch”, whereby each participant is expected to consume his or her evening meal at the meeting and pay for own consumption of food and beverages. This is a part of the arrangement with the event venue that allows us to do without a participation fee.

Those interested in attending the GIRT meeting on 9^th January may write to tiwari@tuhh.de latest by January 5^th, 2012. Since seating capacity is limited we require binding registration and will send the confirmed participants a written affirmation of the registration prior to the event.

Wishing all our participants a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous year ahead!

With best regards

Rajnish Tiwari
Head, German-Indian Round Table Hamburg