February 6, 2019
The latest association will cover air and water monitoring, marine litter, waste to energy, landfill sites, bio-methanation, water quality management, capacity building and circular economy
Total bilateral cooperation between India and Germany since 1958 has amounted to US$18.6 billion, with a focus on renewable energy, smart cities, urban mobility and skill development
Germany and India signed agreements in August 2018 with a total valuation of US$745 million in the priority areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency and sustainable urban development
With bilateral trade touching US$22 billion in 2017-18, Germany is India’s strongest trading partner in EU; Germany is India’s 7th largest foreign investor with US$11 billion over 2000-2017
The 3rd Indo-German Working Group for cooperation in water and waste management was held in New Delhi on February 6. On the occasion, delegations from the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, India, and the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU), Germany, met and discussed potential cooperation in the field of water and waste management. The 2nd Indo-German Environment Forum was held in 2015 during when the two working groups were constituted. The association comes amid growing India-Germany economic cooperation that has opened up newer avenues for interactions. Additionally, when it comes to matters of water and sanitation, India’s priorities in most areas match with German expertise.
Cooperation in environment has attracted focus under Indo-German Climate and Renewables Alliance. The outcomes will be taken up to higher levels of collaboration during the 3rd Indo-German Environment Forum which is to be held in New Delhi on February 13, wherein both sides are expected to make major announcements. The association is planned to cover textile sector, air and water governance, marine litter, waste to energy (incineration), bio-methanation, landfill sites, water quality management, training and capacity building of local bodies and circular economy. India and Germany recently celebrated 60 years of development partnership with focus on energy, environment and sustainability. Meanwhile, bilateral trade has risen to US$22 billion in FY 2017-18.
The latest environmental partnership comes days after a high-level German delegation met with India’s junior minister for commerce and industry, C R Chaudhary in New Delhi. Both sides held discussions on a wide range of subjects with Indian seeking greater collaboration with Germany in projects such as smart cities, food processing sector, building of airports, dairy sector and technology for green energy. Further, the German delegation desired to look at the opportunities and challenges for German companies in India and to get a better understanding of the start-up India programme and its current status. Both sides also sought new investment opportunities for firms from either country in the other’s territory. Currently, around 80 Indian companies operate around Germany.