On Thursday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in India for a significant diplomatic and economic visit aimed at bolstering ties between the two nations.
The visit comes as part of the seventh round of Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) and the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024), with Chancellor Scholz leading a high-level delegation of senior ministers and business leaders.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, welcomed the Chancellor upon his arrival in New Delhi, marking the start of his three-day trip, including a visit to Goa.
This visit underscores the growing collaboration between India and Germany, which have maintained a strategic partnership since 2000.
Taking to X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted, “Herzlich willkommen in Neu Delhi! @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz of Germany lands in New Delhi for the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations and the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024). Warmly received with a ceremonial welcome by MoS for Home affairs @nityanandraibjp.”
Chancellor Scholz’s visit follows two key trips in 2023, including his participation in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September and an official state visit earlier in February.
The current visit, from 24 to 26 October, highlights Germany’s continued engagement with India across multiple fronts, from trade to technology.
On Friday, Chancellor Scholz is likely to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister’s official residence.
The two leaders will also participate in the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, a major event that brings together over 650 business leaders from Germany, India, and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The conference aims to deepen economic cooperation and explore new avenues for investment, trade, and technological partnerships.
The biennial conference is a crucial platform for fostering dialogue between business executives and political representatives from Germany and Indo-Pacific nations, with this year’s focus likely to be on sectors such as renewable energy, digital technologies, and manufacturing.
In addition to business talks, Chancellor Scholz and PM Modi will engage in high-level bilateral discussions, where the agenda includes enhanced security cooperation, opportunities for talent mobility, and a strengthened Green and Sustainable Development Partnership.
Both nations are likely to discuss their collaboration in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and strategic defense industries.
Global and regional developments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, will also be high on the agenda.
Following these meetings, both leaders will lead a joint plenary session involving ministers from both governments, where they will review the outcomes of discussions held as part of the Intergovernmental Consultations.
Additionally, on Saturday, Chancellor Scholz will head to Goa, where the German naval frigate ‘Baden-Wuerttemberg’ and the support ship ‘Frankfurt am Main’ are docked as part of Germany’s Indo-Pacific deployment.
The port call reflects Germany’s growing interest in the Indo-Pacific region and its commitment to maintaining open and secure sea lanes, a point of mutual interest for both nations.
Germany and India have steadily built a robust partnership, with cooperation spanning science and technology, green energy, defense, and more.
As they mark 50 years of collaboration in science and technology this year, both nations are optimistic about the future.
Chancellor Scholz’s visit is seen as a milestone that will further solidify this long-standing relationship as both countries look ahead to expanding ties in the 21st century’s key sectors.
This visit, which comes on the cusp of the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership, is likely to pave the way for enhanced cooperation in critical areas such as digitalization, renewable energy, and economic resilience.
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