India-Germany relations

By Educrat IAS Academy | | 0 comment | 22 May, 2022 | 0

Strategic and economic importance of India-German ties:

India and Germany have a “Strategic Partnership” since 2001, which has been further strengthened with the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC)
The 5th IGC, was held in 2019 during which 21 MoUs/Agreements were signed in diverse areas of engagement including some of the new and emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Space, Smart Cities, Urban Green Mobility etc.

Both are part of G20 – Challenges to global economic stability and growth, G-4 – Reform of the UNSC, discussions towards initiation of text-based negotiations.
Some States and Cities of India and Germany have entered into twinning arrangements. In January 2015, Maharashtra and Baden-Wurttemberg signed an MoU to establish a Sister State relationship.

Germany is India’s largest trading partner in Europe. Bilateral trade grew from Euro 15.96 billion to Euro 20.41 bn in 2018.
Germany is the 7th largest foreign direct investor in India since April 2000.
To facilitate the entry of German Mittelstand (Medium Sized Companies) in India, the Embassy of India, Berlin runs the Make in India Mittelstand (MIIM) Programme since September 2015.

Germany and India have a green partnership based on trade, investment, technology, functional collaboration, skill development, and sustainability.
There are several initiatives like the Indo-German energy forum, environmental forum, partnership on urban mobility, skill development and science and technology.
The biggest gain from the IGC has been the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) establishing the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership.
Germany is reaching out with new and additional financing of €10 billion to fund green projects in India under public, private and PPP models.
To support this, a ministerial segment is being introduced under the IGC.
The IGC is the only such format that India has with any country.
Another significant development is the JDI on Triangular Development Cooperation for projects in third countries. This will provide avenues to work together in the Indo-Pacific, Africa and beyond.
The Indo-German Education Partnership, which the German Bundestag passed in 2016 as a New Passage to India, has borne fruit — from about 4,000 students in 2015, there are nearly 29,000 Indian students in Germany.