Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, paid an official visit to India, at the invitation of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, from 24th to 26th October 2024 for the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) and 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024).
- Previously, Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited India twice in 2023, for a bilateral State Visit in February 2023 and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023.
- During his visit, Chancellor Scholz traveled to Goa, where the German naval frigate “Baden-Wuerttemberg” and combat support ship “Frankfurt am Main” have made a scheduled port call as part of Germany’s Indo-Pacific deployment.
Highlights of the Visit:
7th Intergovernmental Consultations(ICG):
i.On 25 October 2024, PM Modi and Chancellor Olaf Scholz co-chaired the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations(IGC) under the motto “Growing Together with Innovation, Mobility and Sustainability”.
- Chancellor Scholz was accompanied by senior Ministers in his cabinet for the IGC consultations.
ii.The IGC is a whole-of-government framework under which Ministers from both sides hold discussions in their respective areas of responsibility and report on the outcome of their deliberations to the Prime Minister and Chancellor.
iii.During 7th IGC, bilateral talks were held to discuss enhanced security and defence cooperation, greater opportunities for mobility of talent, deeper economic cooperation, Green and Sustainable Development Partnership and collaboration in the area of emerging and strategic technologies. The discussions were focused on important regional and global developments.
iv.India & Germany decided to establish an India-Germany Dialogue on West Asia and North Africa (WANA) between the respective Foreign Ministries, which would be in addition to long-standing dialogue mechanisms on Africa and East Asia.
Note: The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Inter – Governmental Agreement on Cooperation in Scientific Research and Technological Development which institutionalized the framework of Indo-German cooperation in Science & Technology, research and innovation.
18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024):
i.On 25th October 2024, PM Modi and Chancellor Scholz addressed the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024) being held in New Delhi, Delhi.
ii.The APK is a biennial event for business leaders, executives, and political representatives from Germany and the countries in the Indo-Pacific. The conference was chaired by Roland Busch, APA Chairman, Roland Busch, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany. It was hosted by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC).
iii.Around 650 top business leaders and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from Germany, India, and other countries participated in the event.
India & Germany sign multiple MoUs on green hydrogen, technology & trade
i.India and Germany signed several Memorandum of Understandings(MoUs) and agreements to boost bilateral relations in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in New Delhi.
ii.India and Germany signed a number of treaties, agreements and documents including on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Criminal Matters, Agreement on the Exchange and Mutual Protection of Classified Information, Indo-German Green Hydrogen Road Map, Road Map on Innovation and Technology, and Joint Declaration of Intent for Joint Cooperation in Research and Development on Advanced Materials.
iii.Both nations also signed a MoU on cooperation in the fields of skill development and vocational education and training.
iv.Both the countries also exchanged three joint declarations of intent in the fields of employment and labour, research and development on advanced materials, and green urban mobility partnerships.
Additional: The Foreign Secretary informed that bilateral trade stood at USD 33 billion in 2023, and cumulative German investments in India amount to nearly 15 billion dollars.
About Germany:
President – Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Capital – Berlin
Currency – Euro
