India-Germany released Joint Statement to strengthen Strategic Partnership

India-Germany Joint Statement was released on 14 April 2015 with an aim to upgrade and further strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

The Joint Statement was released after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Hannover and Berlin. PM Narendra Modi is on a three-day visit to Germany.

As part of the statement, the two nations agreed to take proactive steps to advance collaboration in the areas of manufacturing, skill development, urban development, environment, railways, cleaning of rivers, language and science & technology.

Details of Joint Statement
Manufacturing: Utilize the momentum generated by India’s participation in the Hannover Messe 2015 to foster stronger ties between business and industry on both sides in order to support India’s Make in India initiative.

Skill Development: Expansion of existing Indo-German cooperation through new initiatives, including a road-map for enhancing employability of trainees and apprentices by strengthening industry involvement in Skills Development, as in the German dual system.

Science and Technology (S&T): Both sides declared their intent to promote closer R&D cooperation in science, technology and innovation, in particular through extending the tenure of the bi-national Indo-German Science & Technology Center in India.

Urban Development: Strengthen the bilateral cooperation through the establishment of a working group on urban development. Support development of urban planning and infrastructure in India, including
a) Cooperation in the development of new areas of collaboration and mutual benefit in the development of smart cities in India
b) Setting up peer-to-peer network of Municipalities for direct collaboration
c) Assistance in the area of affordable housing

Railways: Support for the modernization of the railway infrastructure including setting up of semi high-speed and high-speed railways and training and skill development of personnel in the rail sector starting with signalling and telecommunications and a high-speed rail system.

Education: To promote closer educational exchanges, including through setting up of an International Center for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences, strengthening collaboration between universities in India and Germany through the Indo German Strategic Partnerships in Higher Education program, and enhancing the exchange of scientists between both countries within the framework of India’s GIAN initiative.

Language: To support the respective programs and efforts in India and Germany to broaden knowledge of each other’s languages among the youth in accordance with the national policy of each country.

Environment: Strengthen the bilateral cooperation through the establishment of two working groups in the areas of water and waste management.

Cleaning of Rivers: Following the completion of the Ganga Scoping Mission in October 2014 by Germany, develop cooperation on Ganga River rejuvenation strategies, capacity support for urban sanitation, setting up of standards, approaches to industrial pollution and innovative financial models.

Renewable Energy: Support India’s proposed objective of 175GW of renewable energy by 2022 through technical and financial support for developing comprehensive solar rooftop and green energy corridor projects in India.

Besides, the two nations also agreed to strengthen their efforts towards carrying on negotiations for an ambitious EU India Free Trade Agreement with a view to its early conclusion.

Both sides also explored ways of expanding dialogue on security issues and foreign policy. Towards this, they welcomed the proposed visits of India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Germany and visit of Defence Minister of Germany to India before the Inter-Governmental Consultations.