Table of Contents
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
- Germany is a country in Central and Western Europe, lying between the Baltic and North Seas to the north and the Alps, Lake Constance and the High Rhine to the south.
- It borders Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France to the southwest, and Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands to the west.
POWERHOUSE OF EUROPE
- With 83 million inhabitants, it is the most populous state lying entirely in Europe, as well as the most populous member state of the European Union.
- Europe in 2018 had a nominal GDP of $23 trillion
- Germany (about $4.0 trillion)
- United Kingdom (about $2.8 trillion),
- France (about $2.8 trillion),
- Italy (about $2.0 trillion),
- Russia (about $1.6 trillion),
- Spain (about $1.4 trillion),
SOME POINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
- Germany is India’s largest trading partner in Europe.
- India and Germany are members of G-4 along with Brazil and Japan. The G4 nations support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
- Both countries are also members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
TRADE – NUMBERS
- Bilateral trade increased to US$ 21.98bn (2017-18), a growth of 17.15%. In 2017-18, India’s exports were worth US$ 8.68 billion to Germany and imports were worth US$ 13.29 billion
MERKEL’S VISIT
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited India from 31st October – 1st November 2019 for the fifth round of
- Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).
INDIA GERMANY – MAJOR TURNING POINTS
- India and Germany have a ‘Strategic Partnership’ since 2001.
- Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in 2011 at the level of Head of Governments which allows for a comprehensive review of cooperation and identification of areas of engagement. India is amongst a select group of countries with which Germany has such a dialogue mechanism.
POINT TO NOTE
- India has intergovernmental mechanism with just 4 countries Germany, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Japan
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- India and Germany signed 17 MoUs in areas including migration, Ayurveda and yoga, occupational diseases, maritime technology and start-ups
- The two nations also exchanged five joint declarations of intent which included cooperation on strategic projects, partnership for green urban mobility, development of AI and cooperation to prevent marine litter.
COOPERATION IN DEFENCE
- India has invited Germany to take advantage of opportunities in defence sector in the upcoming defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- The countries agreed to work on bilateral and multilateral platforms to counter terrorism and extremism.
CLIMATE CHANGE
- Agreed to provide financial support to climate initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Germany expressed its readiness to provide 1.1 billion dollar to India for green urban mobility.
ECONOMIC SECTOR
- To deepen efforts to restart negotiations between the European Union (EU) and India on the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA).
- INDIA-EU Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA): It is a Free Trade Agreement between India and EU, which was initiated in 2007. Even after a decade of negotiations, India and EU have failed to resolve certain issues which have led to a deadlock.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- To conduct joint research on the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- To identify best possible approaches on cyber security.
LARGER SIGNIFICANCE
- Merkel is the first foreign leader to visit India after Jammu and Kashmir was officially bifurcated into two Union Territories on October 31.
- During her visit, Merkel met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.
ISA AND GERMANY
- Germany also expressed its desire to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
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