Germany looking to expand trade ties with India
Germany is looking to work with India on making cutting-edge defence equipment, recruiting skilled workers, expanding trade and green technologies.
At a strategic level, the European nation intended to ramp up its military prowess in the wake of Russian aggression in Ukraine and work alongside New Delhi in the Indo-Pacific, said Philipp Ackermann, the German Envoy to India, in an interview to The Tribune.
On the recently conducted Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Ackermann said the German delegation was satisfied with the outcome of the meetings.
Skilling, trade and technology
Ackermann said there was a huge demand for skilled labour in Germany. “We were looking for IT engineers, caregivers, nurses or even apprentices in craft shops. Germany will recruit to guarantee legal migration,” he said.
On the reports that Germany is looking for 90,000 Indian workers, he said: “There is no ceiling. The Indian diaspora -- some 2.8 lakh -- is successful and prosperous and earning more on an average than the Germans."
On being asked about the German cabinet's ‘focus on India’ decision taken last year, he said “we will continue to build the bilateral relations. Germany is in between a change of governments, but there will be continuity on India. The new Chancellor (likely to be Friedrich Merz) will continue with focus on India. This will happen no matter who is heading the foreign ministry”.
On green energy, Ackermann said “We have now about 60 per cent of electricity from renewables. This is an area where we work very closely with India. Green and sustainable development is our common goal."
When asked about the focus of nearly 2,000 German companies in India, Ackermann said: "Many of them have their R&D base in India. SAP, a software producer, has more engineers in India than in Germany. Carmaker Mercedes has 8,000 engineers in India working on future of mobility.”
He referred to the impending European Union and India free trade agreement, saying “we hope it comes to a conclusion by the year-end. It would be a game changer for our business…. We hope the Automotive sector is a part of the EU-India talks." There is a "political energy" after the EU commission visited India in February.
Defence and space
On a question if German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) would face any regulations on transferring technology to India if it is selected with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), Mumbai, to produce the next generation of submarines, Ackermann said: “The German government is fully behind the bid of TKMS. We have a very clear commitment from the German government for this deal. (It has been conveyed to India) that we will facilitate this deal. Now, it is for India to decide,” he added.
On Indo-Pacific, the ambassador said: “There is an overlap between Indian and German position. That is to ensure that Indo-Pacific stays a part of the global international sea route order. We want our trade."
“The German cabinet has agreed on ‘Indo-Pacific guidelines’ and part of the strategy is to have our military increasingly visible in the area. You will see more of Germany in the Indo- Pacific and we will do more with partners especially India that is important in this area”.
On outer space, the Ambassador said in the near future, Germany-India would join hands to do more in space.
Russia Ukraine war
A €3 billion aid for Ukraine has been okayed by the German cabinet. “We want the war to end but we cannot throw Ukraine under the bus. The ceasefire has to be accepted by all parties,” he added.
Addressing the change in the US position on Europe, the Ambassador said: “We have to make sure that Europe is in a position to defend itself and that means an increase in re-armament across every European country”.
“Germany in particular has decided to spend a lot of money in getting our forces upto a level to defend ourselves. We feel threatened in Europe. We are not trusting the Russians”, he added.
