Picture Credit: TheDialog
Development policy negotiations between Germany and India have successfully wrapped up in New Delhi on 20 September. The talks, led by the Department for Economic Affairs of India’s Ministry of Finance and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), resulted in an agreement to continue joint efforts in key areas such as renewable energy, urban development, sustainable mobility, and agroecology.
The cooperation will continue to be guided by the Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development, a framework established in 2022 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Strengthening Strategic Ties
“Germany and India share a long-standing, trusting, and strategic partnership,” stated Barbara Schäfer, head of the German delegation.
Schäfer emphasized the deepening of this relationship in 2024, especially with the recent launch of the “India-Germany Platform for Investments in Renewable Energy Worldwide,” introduced during the 4th RE-Invest in Gandhinagar on September 16, 2024. “With our commitments this year, Germany has made it clear that it reliably fulfils its international obligations,” she added.
Schäfer highlighted key achievements of the Indo-German partnership, including the construction of 7,700 kilometers of modern transmission lines and the development of metro systems in cities like Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, and the water metro in Kochi. She also noted Germany’s efforts in supporting climate-resilient and resource-efficient agriculture in India, alongside triangular cooperation projects in countries such as Peru and across Africa.
A Platform for Global Leadership
The negotiations set the stage for the upcoming Indo-German government consultations between Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Scholz, which will take place in October 2024 in New Delhi. The aim is to further elevate the partnership, with a focus on sustainable and green development on a global scale.
“The term ‘sustainable energy transition’ takes on a new quality when Germany and India combine their unique capabilities, setting a positive example not only in their own countries but also globally,” said Uwe Gehlen, Head of German Development Cooperation in India and Minister Counselor at the German Embassy.
Significant Financial Commitment
Germany has committed over €1 billion in concessional loans and technical cooperation for projects in renewable energy, energy distribution, urban development, sustainable agriculture, forest ecosystems, and water management. The funds will also support India’s vocational education initiatives and the National Mission for a Clean Ganga.
This renewed collaboration between Germany and India reinforces both nations’ dedication to sustainable development and the global energy transition.
