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Key partner in the Indo-Pacific region – Foreign Minister Baerbock at the seventh Indo-German Intergovernmental Consultations
German-Indian intergovernmental consultations, © Photothek Media Lab
The world’s most populous country, the fifth-largest economy and a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific: Foreign Minister Baerbock is travelling with Federal Chancellor Scholz and other members of the Cabinet to New Delhi for the seventh Indo-German Intergovernmental Consultations.
Under the motto “Growing together – with innovation, mobility and sustainability”, the talks are intended to signal our desire to intensify the strategic partnership with India – as set out in the Focus on India paper recently adopted by the Cabinet. In addition to worker mobility, climate, energy and environmental cooperation, scientific and technological collaboration as well as security and defence cooperation, the consultations will focus on the conclusion of bilateral agreements and declarations of intent aimed at further intensifying our cooperation with India.
Continuation of a success story: Skilled immigration
In 2022, India was the first country with which Germany concluded a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement. Many Indians look to Germany when it comes to choosing a place to study or work. Around 250,000 Indians live in Germany, including almost 50,000 students – the largest group of foreign students at German universities.
The German Government wants to continue this success story. In time for the intergovernmental consultations, the Cabinet adopted its India Skilled Labour Strategy, which includes concrete measures on how to further facilitate skilled immigration from India. For German business urgently needs around 400,000 additional skilled workers each year. In order to attract the best minds, the German Government is planning to dismantle bureaucratic obstacles, digitalise visa procedures and expand opportunities to learn German.
Business, climate, science and technology, security and defence cooperation
India has huge economic growth potential, also for German companies. Parallel to the intergovernmental consultations, the Asia-Pacific Conference (APC) of German Business will take place in New Delhi – a suitable stage for presenting India to German business as a reliable partner for the future, thus diversifying Germany’s economic relations in Asia.
Climate action is only possible in conjunction with India. The Green and Sustainable Development Partnership agreed upon at the last intergovernmental consultations has set new standards: Germany and India are working together to achieve the climate and sustainability goals we set ourselves in the Paris Agreement. Moreover, cooperation on green hydrogen, a successful example of collaboration, is to be stepped up.
The geopolitical lines of conflict in the Indo-Pacific and the high economic dynamics in the region will play a significant role in shaping the international order of the 21st century. It is therefore also necessary to expand our partnership with India in the sphere of security and defence policy. For instance, an agreement on reciprocal logistical support of the armed forces with India is to be concluded in order to facilitate deployment of the Bundeswehr in the Indo-Pacific in future. The German navy’s visit to Goa for the Indo-Pacific Deployment is a very concrete example of this enhanced cooperation. Together with Chancellor Scholz, Foreign Minister Baerbock will show her appreciation of the work done by soldiers on board the ships by visiting Goa at the end of the trip.
