New Delhi: Johann Saathoff, the Parliamentary State Secretary in Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, is travelling to India along with a business delegation as Berlin looks to emphasise its growing ties with New Delhi with particular focus on renewable energy technologies.
“The aim of the trip is to promote cooperation between Indian and German companies and to improve investment opportunities,” the German Embassy said in a statement Tuesday.
Saathoff is set to begin his trip Wednesday in Chennai where he and the German business delegation will hold talks with Indian companies and associations in the wind energy sector. The following day, Saathoff is set to inaugurate the Indian Wind Energy Fair 2025, which is being held at the Chennai Trade Centre, before travelling to New Delhi.
The parliamentary state secretary and the business delegation are set to hold meetings in New Delhi with the government, various companies and associations from different sectors such as solar and bioenergy. Saathoff is also expected to hold meetings focussed on the migration of skilled labour from India to Germany.
Ties between New Delhi and Berlin have deepened in recent years. Under the previous administration led by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the two governments made a number of announcements including the Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development (GSDP).
The GSDP is Berlin’s signature EUR 10 billion investment pledge to aid India’s energy transition by 2030. So far, Germany has committed at least EUR 2.6 billion in projects such as public transport, waste management systems, agroecology and energy transition.
There are at least four working groups currently engaged in strategically important areas such as solar and wind energy, battery storage, skilled workers and research and development, according to the statement by the German Embassy, indicating the areas where ties are set to continue to deepen.
One of the main focus areas for Berlin’s investment in India is public transport, especially as Indian cities continue to build different public transport systems. The new government in Berlin led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz has so far not shifted course in Germany’s ties with India.
In June, Merz met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the G7 summit in Canada. Green energy and technology was one of the subjects discussed, along with trade and investment, and defence and security-related matters in the meeting.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul travelled to New Delhi in September and held meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Apart from strong political ties bilaterally, Berlin has also supported the ongoing negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) for a free trade agreement (FTA).
On Monday, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, as the two sides continue to push ahead in the negotiations for the FTA.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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