German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Indian Prime Minister headed the
second Indo-German Intergovernmental Consultations in Berlin. The consultations
focused on cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, renewable energies,
vocational training, higher education and language, health, and security
policy. The planned Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union
was also a point of discussion.
With regard to the Free Trade Agreement, Chancellor Merkel
pointed out a solution seemed to be within reach. She praised India’s
flexibility concerning the ongoing conversations, but also stated that there
was still some work to be done, especially in the domains of the insurance and
service sector, the automobile industry and intellectual property rights.
Speaking about the high value accorded to the Indo-German
economic ties, Prime Minister Singh said at the press conference, “Economic
ties have been a defining feature of our relationship. Germany is one of our
largest economic partners globally. I encouraged increased German participation
in India’s rapid economic growth and our plans to modernize and upgrade our
manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. Our Infrastructure plans entail
investment of a trillion dollars in the next five years. I also sought
continuing openness and support to growing Indian presence in Germany,
including in the services sector. We agreed on the importance of an early
conclusion of a balanced India-EU Broad Based Trade and Investment
Agreement."
The two leaders also discussed varied international issues –
Chancellor Merkel and PM Singh agreed to continue with joints efforts through
the G-4 for the reform of the United Nations Security Council to reflect the
current realities. An emphasis was also put on the importance of sustained
international support to Afghanistan through its transition period. Germany and
India called for an end to violence in Syria and a peaceful resolution of the
Iranian nuclear issue, apart from underlining the importance of peace and
stability in the Asia Pacific region, including on the Korean peninsula.
Six Agreements signed
In terms of bilateral agreements, several Memoranda of
Understanding were signed.
1. Joint Declaration of Intent between Ministry
of Human Resource Development and the Federal Foreign Office of Germany
regarding promotion of German as a foreign language in India.
2. Intergovernmental MoU between India &
Germany on Cooperation in the field of Higher Education
3. Joint Declaration of Intent on Indo-German
cooperation in the area of Civil Security Research
4. Joint Declaration between Department of
Agriculture & Cooperation of India and the German Federal Ministry of Food,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection, acting according to its mandate for the
bilateral "Kooperations Program” of the German Federal Ministry of Food,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection and the National Seeds Association of India
and the German Association of Plant Breeders.
5. Joint Declaration of Intent by the Ministry
of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution of India and Federal Ministry
of Economics and Technology of the Federal Republic of Germany on the
Establishment of an Indo-German Working Group on Quality Infrastructure for
Cooperation in Standardisation, Conformity Assessment and Product Safety.
6. Joint Declaration of Intent between Germany
and India on Indo-German Development Cooperation regarding the Establishment of
Green Energy Corridors
Apart from this,
several MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Consultations:
Renewable Energy
MoU between Solar Energy Centre and Fraunhofer Institute for
cooperation and exchanges in various areas including solar photovoltaic; solar
thermals systems; hydrogen and fuel cells.
Science &
Technology
Programme of Cooperation between Dept. of Biotechnology of India
and Helmholtz Association in the area of development of future natural drugs.
Supplementary MoU on Research Framework of the Indo-German
Centre for Sustainability at IIT, Madras under the National Climate Action
Plan.
Railways
MoU between Deutsche Bahn and Indian Railways for cooperation in
the field of freight, passenger operations, infrastructure building and
management; development of modern competitive railway organization.
MoU between DB Systel and Centre for Railway Information Systems
for cooperation in the field of information systems related to railways.
Vocational Education
& Training
MOU between Hof University of Applied Sciences & Integrated
Association of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises of India (SPV formed by
Faridabad Small Industries Association) to develop specialized vocational
training course.
MOU between Manipal University, Manipal, India & Bavarian
Universities Consortium represented by Hof University of Applied Sciences of
Germany to establish the Indo-Bavarian Integrated Bachelors and Masters
Programme in August 2013.
MoU between Infosys Ltd and Bertelsmann Stiftung to support
Vocational Education and Training in India.
MOU between PSG Institute of Advanced Studies & Professional
Training Centres of the Bavarian Employers Association (BFZ)
Contract agreement between Cairn India and TUV Rheinland to set
up a state-of-the-art vocational education training facility in Rajasthan.
© German Embassy New
Delhi
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