India and Germany today signed multiple MoUs and agreements ranging from green hydrogen to innovation and technology to boost bilateral relations. The MoUs and agreements were exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in New Delhi after the delegation-level talks.
India and Germany agreed on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information. Both nations also expressed their commitment to the Indo-German Green Hydrogen roadmap along with innovation and technology. They also signed an agreement for a mutual legal assistance treaty in criminal matters. India and Germany also signed a MoU on cooperation in the fields of skill development and vocational education and training. Besides, the two sides also exchanged three joint declarations of intent in the fields of employment and labour, research and development on advanced materials, and green urban mobility partnership.
In the joint press statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s commitment to the restoration of peace in the wake of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. He said these conflicts are matters of concern for India and Germany, and India’s view has always been that problems cannot be solved through war.
Highlighting the importance of bilateral cooperation between India and Germany, the Prime Minister said today the innovation and technology roadmap has been launched. He said forging cooperation in the fields of critical and emerging technologies, skill development, and innovation will further strengthen cooperation in areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and clean energy.
Mr. Modi also reiterated the need to ensure freedom of navigation and rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region. He said reforms are needed in multilateral institutions, including the United Nations Security Council.
In his statement, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz highlighted the strategic partnership between Germany and India. He said both nations are growing together with innovation, mobility, and sustainability. He said Germany has become India’s most important trading partner in the European Union, and he is committed to further strengthening economic cooperation. He also strongly favoured an ambitious free trade agreement between India and the European Union.
Both leaders earlier attended the CEOs Forum at Hyderabad House. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that their guidance on India-Germany B2B engagements is critical to scaling up the partnership. He added that India’s growth story and Germany’s technology and business complement each other.
