Mumbai: The 17th wine festival was inaugurated virtually by Mr Andreas Lapp, Honorary Consul of the Republic of India for Baden-Wuerttemberg. The 17th “Stuttgart meets Mumbai” wine festival 2021 is a virtual festival conducted between 22and 28 February 2021 by Mr Andreas Lapp, an eminent businessman and Honorary Consul of the Republic of India for Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The twin cities of Stuttgart and Mumbai are celebrating the 53rd anniversary of their partnership. The celebration witnesses the participation of high-level decision-makers from politics, education, culture and business sectors. The festival is a social event with the focus on bringing together the two cities (Stuttgart and Mumbai), the two states (Baden-Wuerttemberg and Maharashtra) and the two nations (Germany and India).

Andreas Lapp, said, “We may be 6,500 km apart, but, Stuttgart and Mumbai have grown closer over time. The wine festival is a significant annual event that strengthens the relationship and collaboration between the two cities. Even though the pandemic has made it difficult to meet people in person, technology has enabled us to bridge the distance by connecting and celebrating the festival virtually. I feel ecstatic to be celebrating the 17^th edition of the festival virtually for the first time.”

Delegates, such as Mr Anil Vasantrao Deshmukh, Cabinet Minister for Home Affairs at the Government of Maharashtra; Dr Frank Nopper, Lord Mayor of the city of Stuttgart; Dr Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of the city of Karlsruh, Dr Juergen Morhard, Consul General for the Federal Republic of Germany in Mumbai; will participate.

The seven-day event will have programmes scheduled in the morning and evening to encourage people to participate across two different time zones.

“The Stuttgart meets Mumbai” wine festival will host an intercultural festival with a virtual exhibition, interactive webinars and networking sessions for the participants. German and Indian artists will showcase various projects with the slogan “Keeping in touch” for the cultural programme. The results of the projects will be presented for the first time to the public at “Stuttgart meets Mumbai.” The virtual event will also host a webinar by LAPP India on the” Global Trends in Smart Factory” by Mr Georg Stawowy, Chief Technical Officer and member of the board.

The Indian Honorary Consulate in Stuttgart undertakes initiatives, similar to “Stuttgart meets Mumbai” to bridge the cultural, social, political and economic environment between the two countries.