Германия является крупнейшим торговым партнером Индии в Европе; это также важный источник инвестиций в Индию.
The India-Germany Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in New Delhi on Monday (July 15, 2024) saw top diplomats from the two sides undertake a thorough review of their multi-faceted relationship. They used the opportunity to explore avenues to deepen the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.
 
The review, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri who assumed charge earlier in the day and State Secretary of German Foreign Office Thomas Bagger, follows the recent meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Rome, Italy. Equally significantly, the FOC comes ahead of the upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations between India and Germany.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides undertook a comprehensive review of the entire gamut of India-Germany bilateral relations encompassing key areas of bilateral cooperation including trade, investment, science and technology, defence, development cooperation and academic and people-to-people exchanges. 
 
“They agreed to further deepen and diversify bilateral ties in key areas of contemporary relevance such as emerging technologies, digital platforms, renewable energy, green economy and extending development cooperation to third countries,” the MEA stated. The co-chairs also held in-depth discussions and exchanged perspectives on key issues of regional and global importance, the MEA added.

During their discussions, the two sides explored avenues for further deepening the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, especially in light of the upcoming 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) scheduled to be held in New Delhi and to be chaired at the level of Leaders of the two countries, the MEA said.
 
Additionally, the Co-chairs also welcomed the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses (APK) scheduled to be held in New Delhi around the IGC and expressed hope that it will lead to further intensification of bilateral business-to-business collaboration.

“Both sides expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the consultations today and agreed to continue to work towards the success of the upcoming Inter-Governmental Consultations,” the MEA said.
 
During the visit, Bagger also called on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and met with Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane.
 
"Good to meet Dr. Thomas Bagger, State Secretary in German Federal Foreign Office. Noted the progress made in the strategic partnership. Look forward to a productive meeting of the 7th Inter Governmental Consultations later this year," EAM Jaishankar posted on X, formerly Twitter. 

Robust Strategic Partnership 
 
Relations between India and Germany are marked by regular interactions at the highest levels. Indian Prime Minister Modi and German Chancellor Scholz met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Rome on June 15, 2024. They used the opportunity to review progress in their bilateral Strategic Partnership, while discussing ways to deepen cooperation in areas like defence, green and sustainable development, critical minerals, mobility of skilled personnel and education, the MEA stated.
 
The two leaders also met on the sidelines of the New Delhi G20 Summit in September 2023.
 
Earlier last year, meeting in New Delhi in February 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed to work towards a roadmap for innovation and technology with a view to using scientific and technological knowledge for the economic development of both countries as well as to address global challenges.

According to the vision document on enhancing cooperation in technology and innovation, India and Germany decided to introduce and develop further the following elements:
 
1. Energy partnership and clean technologies, including green hydrogen.
2. Strengthen the framework and ecosystem for Indo-German business relations to thrive.
3. Digital technologies, including fintech.
4. Artificial Intelligence (AI).
5. 5G/6G.
 
Germany is India's biggest trading partner in Europe; it is also an important source of investment in India, Prime Minister Modi said after their meeting.

Speaking to the media, Chancellor Scholz said about 1,800 German companies are active in India and have provided thousands of jobs, adding that Germany also wants to benefit from Indian talent.