NEW DELHI, Oct. 25 2024 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a forthcoming “roadmap on innovation and technology” with Germany, a major step to bolster collaboration on Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, and clean energy.
According to reports, PM Modi shared this plan during the plenary of the 7th Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“This roadmap will further strengthen our collaboration in critical areas,” Modi stated. He added that the past two years had seen “encouraging progress” in defense, technology, energy, and sustainable development, marking these as “symbols of mutual trust” between the nations.
India remains among a select group with which Germany holds an IGC, a mechanism initiated in 2011 to deepen bilateral ties. In the last IGC in Berlin in 2022, several key decisions for bilateral cooperation were made, and both nations have actively pursued joint initiatives since.
Modi also expressed appreciation for Germany’s “skilled labor mobility strategy,” the first of its kind tailored for India. Germany recently introduced this initiative to facilitate the movement of skilled workers from India to address workforce shortages in Germany. “This reflects Germany’s recognition of India’s skilled talent pool,” Modi remarked, welcoming the commitment to enhance labor mobility between the two nations.
Addressing regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, Modi stressed concerns over the “rule of law and freedom of navigation,” alluding to Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea without directly naming China. In alignment, Germany deployed two warships for joint exercises with the Indian Navy, as confirmed by the Navy. The warships, set to dock in Goa during Scholz’s visit, recently conducted drills in the Taiwan Straits.
Modi also lauded Germany’s “Focus on India” strategy, which aims to increase German investment in India. The Asia Pacific Conference of German Business saw both leaders promoting trade opportunities, with Germany’s over 2,000 companies in India keen to expand further. A CEOs forum was scheduled for later in the day to foster additional investment.
In tandem, the two countries launched a green hydrogen roadmap to spearhead sustainable energy initiatives.
