India mission

Styrians want to find niches in the giant country

A spirit of optimism prevails in India

(Bild: Stoimaier)

Styrian business delegation is quite impressed during its visit to India. There is a palpable sense of economic optimism on the subcontinent - and the state is paying for it. How the Styrians want to share in the success.

A country in the fast lane! With more than 1.4 billion inhabitants, India has long since overtaken China as the world's most populous country. Half of the world's population under the age of 25 lives on the subcontinent. With economic growth of 7.3 percent, it recorded the strongest increase of all G20 countries last year. Key parameters in the giant country therefore speak a clear language.

"The future is being shaped here"
"No other country in the world is currently experiencing such growth as India," says Gernot Pagger, Managing Director of the Styrian Federation of Industry. "And despite all the challenges, for example in the areas of infrastructure or the environment, global future trends are definitely being shaped here."

And the Styrian economy also wants to participate in this. That is why a white-green delegation has been in Asia since last Sunday. "Especially in the current economic situation, it is important to keep an eye out for new partners and markets," Pagger is convinced. "Every internationally successful Austrian company is a niche world champion, so to speak, and this is precisely where our strength lies. And I am convinced that our Styrian companies can also succeed in this market with their expertise."

Impressed: Helmut Röck (WKO) and IV Managing Director Gernot Pagger (right).

(Bild: Stoimaier)

The extent to which things are currently changing in India can also be seen from the fact that around 30 billion euros (!) have been reserved in the current national budget for the expansion of rail and road infrastructure. One example of the economic upturn is the supplier specialist Sansera in Bengaluru. Around 10,000 employees work here for well-known manufacturers from the automotive industry such as Mercedes, Fiat, Ferrari and the red-white-red motorcycle manufacturer KTM.

The Styrian delegation was able to take a look behind the scenes at Sansera in Bengaluru. A total of almost 10,000 employees work for the supplier.

(Bild: Stoimiaer)

Dominik Velikonja and Manuel Gaig from turning and milling specialist VEGU were also impressed by the Styrian delegation's visit to the plant. "The automation in particular is unbelievable, we don't know that from Austria." India is also a potential future market for the Eibiswald-based company. "We are currently expanding our operations and produce 60 million parts a year," says Managing Director Velikonja. With an export quota of 70 percent, he and his 60 or so employees are currently surfing a wave of success despite all the circumstances.

Manuel Gaig and Dominik Velikonja (VEGU) with cluster head Michael Liebminger (right).

(Bild: Stoimaier)

An exception in the Styrian automotive sector, as Michael Liebminger, Managing Director of the AC Styria mobility cluster (300 member companies with a total of 70,000 employees) confirms: "There is nothing to gloss over in the current challenging times. But that is precisely why it is imperative that we look for new business areas."

India is also reaching for the stars
One potential new business area that has only recently been opened up to foreign companies in India is space travel. The Styrian delegation was able to see the space ambitions of this nation of billions for themselves during a visit to the satellite center of the Indian Space Agency (ISRA). An impressive 126 missions have already been carried out here in Bengaluru by more than 2,000 employees under the strictest security precautions (strictly shielded by the military, personal filming and photography strictly prohibited).

Last year, the Chandrayaan mission to the moon caused quite a stir. The first manned flight is said to be imminent. A test flight took place last October.

Terma Space Business is also at home in space. The space division of the originally Danish company is managed from Austria by Günther Lackner from Graz. "Product development takes us at least five years, as the margin for error is of course zero," he says, outlining the highly complex field of activity. Together with Joanneum Research or Silicon Austria Labs, highly specific components are developed. "The exciting thing about the projects in India is that you can really achieve amazing things here with a much smaller budget."

The trip took place at the invitation of the province of Styria