New Delhi/IBNS: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will arrive in Delhi later today (Thursday, Oct. 24) on a three-day (Oct. 24 to Oct. 26) official visit to India for the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC), scheduled to be held in the national capital.
The IGC, which takes place every two years, will be co-hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 25.
The last IGC was held in Berlin in May 2022.
Ahead of the visit, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann expressed optimism about the outcomes of this years IGC, stating, This biannual exercise will pave the way for a roadmap for the next two years in bilateral relations.
He added that the discussions would cover a wide range of topics and include a delegation of five key ministers from Germany.
The German delegation will consist of ministers overseeing Foreign Affairs, Defence, Labour and Social Affairs, Higher Education, Science and Technology, and Economic Affairs.
Additionally, deputy ministers for Finance, Cooperation and Development, and Environment will also join, as confirmed by Ambassador Ackermann.
Ackermann also highlighted a significant strategic document, titled Focus on India, which the German Cabinet adopted on October 16.
This is the first-ever dedicated policy paper on India by the German government.
The paper unifies all ministries and departments, providing a cohesive strategy for elevating Indo-German relations, he explained.
The document outlines comprehensive cooperation across various sectors.
According to Germanys foreign ministry, the goal is to elevate the strategic partnership with India, which has been in place since 2000.
The upcoming IGC will focus on implementing the first steps toward this upgraded partnership.
Notably, next year marks the 25th anniversary of the Indo-German strategic partnership, and Germany aims to adapt and strengthen bilateral ties to align with future challenges.
