प्रधानमंत्री मोदी का कहना है कि भारत-जर्मनी का साझेदारी समुदाय औट विश्व मानवता के लिए एक स्थिर, सुरक्षित और सतत भविष्य का निर्माण करने में योगदान दे रहा है।
Meeting for the 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations in New Delhi on Friday (October 25, 2024), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Olaf Scholz heralded a new phase in bilateral ties with a focus on technology and innovation, green energy, and security.

At a joint media briefing after their discussions, Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Scholz unveiled a series of strategic agreements that promise to deepen bilateral ties across critical sectors such as technology, security, and sustainable development. In their remarks, both leaders emphasised a commitment to modernizing and strengthening cooperation.

Welcoming Chancellor Scholz and his delegation to India for his third visit in the past two years, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the active and growing partnership between the nations. He noted the discussions at the Asia-Pacific Conference for German Business and the CEO Forum. In addition, Germany’s naval presence at Goa and friendly matches between the countries’ hockey teams underscored the multi-dimensional nature of the relationship, he remarked.

"Under Chancellor Scholz’s leadership, our partnership has gained new momentum and direction," Prime Minister Modi stated, extending warm praise for Germany’s “Focus on India” strategy, which seeks to elevate cooperation with India in a comprehensive manner.

Innovation and Technology: Strengthening Critical and Emerging Sectors
A major highlight of the joint press conference was the launch of a new Innovation and Technology Roadmap, aimed at fostering collaboration on critical and emerging technologies. As part of this roadmap, both nations have committed to a whole-of-government approach that prioritizes advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductor technology, and clean energy.

According to Prime Minister Modi, this unified approach is intended to strengthen cooperation and build “secure, trusted, and resilient global supply value chains.” With AI rapidly evolving as a transformative force, the joint roadmap will enable both countries to harness this technology for societal and industrial advancement. 

Similarly, semiconductor research and production, a sector witnessing global shortages and high demand, is expected to benefit significantly from this collaboration. By pooling resources, expertise, and technological innovation, India and Germany aim to establish themselves as leading contributors in these sectors.

Defence and Security: Enhancing Mutual Trust and Combating Terrorism
The defence and security partnership between India and Germany received a boost with the signing of an agreement on the exchange of classified information. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that this exchange signifies the “deep mutual trust” between the nations. 

Another development was the signing of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, a framework designed to combat terrorism and counter separatist threats. This treaty sets forth protocols for joint action on transnational security threats, enhancing intelligence sharing, investigation support, and judicial cooperation. As Prime Minister Modi observed, “this new step will bolster our joint efforts to combat terrorism and separatist elements.”

The leaders also discussed pressing global security concerns, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s stance on conflict resolution, stating, “India has always maintained that war cannot solve any problem at all,” and emphasised India’s commitment to restoring peace wherever possible.

In addition, both countries agreed on the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and adherence to the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Green and Sustainable Growth: Joint Efforts on Urban Mobility and Hydrogen Roadmap
Sustainability emerged as a key pillar in the India-Germany partnership, with new agreements aimed at accelerating green growth and addressing environmental challenges. The two nations have agreed on the second phase of the Green Urban Mobility Partnership, an initiative that aims to modernize urban transport infrastructure with an emphasis on eco-friendly solutions. This phase builds on existing efforts and will include measures to improve public transportation, reduce urban pollution, and create sustainable urban mobility networks.

Another significant development is the launch of a Green Hydrogen Roadmap, which outlines a cooperative framework for advancing hydrogen technology as a clean energy source. By leveraging green hydrogen, both countries aim to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy sources, is seen as a pivotal technology in the global shift toward sustainable energy. As part of this roadmap, India and Germany will focus on developing scalable hydrogen infrastructure, supporting research and development, and fostering innovation in this critical area.

Fostering Skill Development and Educational Exchange
In addition to these high-level agreements, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of people-to-people ties as a crucial pillar of India-Germany relations. To that end, both countries have committed to expanding their cooperation on skill development and vocational education. An agreement signed between IIT Chennai and Dresden University will facilitate a dual degree program, enabling students to benefit from educational opportunities in both countries.

The launch of Germany’s “Skilled Labour Strategy for India” is another step toward bolstering this connection, providing more opportunities for Indian talent to contribute to Germany’s economy. Prime Minister Modi commended Chancellor Scholz for his “faith in the capacity and capability of Indian talent,” underscoring the valuable role that young Indian professionals play in Germany’s growth and development.

Concluding the press conference, Prime Minister Modi expressed optimism for the future of India-Germany relations. He thanked Chancellor Scholz for his visit, which he said had “given new momentum, energy, and enthusiasm to our partnership.” In his final remarks, he confidently declared, “Our partnership has clarity, and the future is bright.”

The agreements announced today reflect the commitment of both India and Germany to address 21st-century challenges together. By prioritizing innovation, security, and sustainability, the leaders have laid a foundation for a resilient and dynamic partnership, equipped to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi summed up the importance of tha India-Germany partnership during his opening remarks at the meeting.

“The world is going through a period of tension, conflict, and uncertainty. There are also serious concerns about the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. In such times, the strategic partnership between India and Germany has emerged as a strong anchor,” he stated.

“This is not a transactional relationship; this is a transformational partnership between two capable and strong democracies—a partnership that is contributing to building a stable, secure, and sustainable future for the global community and humanity,” Prime Minister Modi pointed out.