Established in 1956 and registered under Section 25 of the Companies’ Act 1956, the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) is a non-profit organization. It is the largest German Bi-National Chamber (AHK) abroad and the largest Chamber of Commerce in India with more than 4500 member companies across diverse sectors. It is a part of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) located in Berlin, Germany and the worldwide network of 130 Chamber offices in 90 countries.
Headquartered in Mumbai, the IGCC has 6 other offices in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune and Düsseldorf, Germany, and 17 honorary representatives in smaller towns and cities in India to facilitate better business contacts among Indian and German companies. It has India Desks in the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHKs) in 18 metros in Germany, and in the German Chambers of Commerce (AHKs) in 9 countries.
The IGCC is a highly respected institution in India and Germany. With its qualified team of over 100 professionals, it is a significant catalyst for the promotion of trade and industrial relations between India and Germany. It offers numerous services such as Business Partner Searches, Company Formations, Legal Advice, HR Recruitment, Marketing and Branding, Trade Fairs, Information and Knowledge-Exchange through Publications, Delegations and Events, and Training.
Mr. Jan Noether brings nearly four decades of international experience spanning banking, corporate management, and senior leadership within the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHK) network. His career has taken him across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, giving him deep exposure to diverse markets, sectors, and cultures.
A graduate of Herzog-Christoph-Gymnasium Beilstein, Mr. Noether began his career at Deutsche Bank AG Stuttgart, qualifying as a Banking Specialist (Bankfachwirt) and spending over 14 years with the bank in senior roles in Germany, India, and Vietnam. His tenure included leading corporate banking divisions, managing multinational client relationships, and heading the German MNC portfolio in Mumbai and Vietnam. As the CEO of Theodore Alexander HCMC Ltd., he led Vietnam’s largest furniture manufacturer with 5,000 employees.
Since 2006, Mr. Noether has held top leadership positions within the AHK network, including Chief Representative of AHK Vietnam and AHK Shanghai, CEO of AHK Türkiye and AHK Egypt, and Executive Director in AHK Malaysia. Between 2021 and May 2025, he served as the AHK Global Spokesperson, strengthening cross-regional collaboration across its 150 offices in 93 countries.
In August 2025, he assumed the position of Director General of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (AHK India). Having lived and worked in multiple continents, Mr. Noether brings a unique global outlook and a strong belief in the power of cross-cultural understanding to drive business success. His affection for India is evident — not only in his appreciation of its cuisine, but also in his vision to position India as the next big destination for German businesses and to make India more visible in Germany’s economic landscape.
Beyond his professional commitments, Mr. Noethre is the proud father of two daughters, an avid reader, a sports enthusiast, and a passionate diver. His multifaceted experiences, both professional and personal, shape his inclusive leadership style and his commitment to building meaningful Indo-German partnerships.
India faces a fast growing economy and a remarkably young population. Good education and skilling of the young is a crucial prerequisite for a country’s future. It is therefore, great to see substantial efforts, in establishing a modern educational system in India. Dual vocational education and training, not only offers young people promising prospects for the future, but also is a key factor for securing skilled labour, close to the demands of the economy.
This success model is drawing interest not only in India, but all over the world. Many German Chambers of Commerce, worldwide, are expanding their vocational training service portfolios. It is very rewarding to see how Indo-German Training Centre (IGTC) promotes this development in India, as part of the worldwide network of German Chambers of Commerce, in over 90 countries.
For many years, Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), has been appreciating the IGTC, as a pioneer of qualifying skilled labours in India. Getting started in 1991, the IGTC has since, done its highly valuable bit on this important endeavour. The substantial demand for, and the benefits of, company-based learning; are impressively demonstrated in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai today. It is a remarkable success story which would not have been possible without IGTC’s dedication, but also the high commitment of the partner companies.
DIHK cordially congratulates IGTC on its completion of 25 years. Happy anniversary!
Providing infrastructure and services for dual vocational education and training in several places in India; we jointly take on responsibility to ensure the development of their skilled workforce of tomorrow, and to support companies.
I am looking forward to the next 25 years of cooperation in India and wish IGTC great success in tackling the challenges of the future.
“Congratulations to the Indo-German Training Centre (IGTC) on its 25th anniversary!
‘An Indian heart and a German mind’ – that is the vision which inspired the IGTC’s foundation, 25 years ago. And that is the promise which the IGTC still makes, to each and every single one of its trainees today.
In our increasingly globalized and interconnected world, it is more important than ever to leave behind narrow- minded and short-sighted perspectives, and to embrace an open and global mindset; especially when it comes to matters of business, economics, and in particular, when it comes to training qualifications. In order to let international business relations and prosperity grow, we need to foster a new generation of excellently trained young people. Ones who are open-minded, who think independently, and who are prepared to take the challenges of an even faster changing business world to come.
After a quarter of a century, IGTC’s commitment to provide hands-on experience of top quality education, has not wavered but it has intensified.
It is wonderful to see the German Dual Education System being embraced enthusiastically by the students. They gain, not only a profound theoretical knowledge during their time at IGTC, but also enjoy the invaluable opportunity to apply their skills and know-how, while interning with some of Germany’s top companies. This partnership doesn’t only provide advantages for the students, but also for the companies, who benefit from the contribution of young employees and interns who think out of the box.
It was equally wonderfully for me to witness first-hand, the thrill, the high motivation and the dedication of the students, their teachers, their peer group and their companies, during my most recent visit to the centre.
Due to the relentless dedication of the IGTC team, the centre has expanded now, to three locations in India. During the last 25 years, IGTC has cultivated over one thousand young minds and equipped them with the skills and self confidence, necessary to take on managerial challenges. And now, more than two decades after the first IGTC generation began their training, the centre is able to proudly look back on legions of students, who have used their training as a stepping stone for a successful and exciting career.
May IGTC’s success story continue for the decades to come and may the spirit of ‘An Indian heart and a German
mind’ serve well for many more generations of students!
