New Delhi, India

Point to a packed month for Indo-German ties, the German ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann has termed October 2024 as "Germany ka Mahotsav" or Festival of Germany in New Delhi. 

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This month will see the German chancellor Olaf Scholz travelling to India for the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC), which happens every two years and alternates between New Delhi and Berlin. Chaired by the German chancellor and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it sees the top cabinet ministers from the two sides sitting together for talks to firm up ties. 

New Delhi will also host, Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024) for which top German CEOs will be travelling to the world's fifth largest economy to seek more opportunities to invest. 

Speaking to WION, the ambassador said, " Germany is very present right now, and that reflects the intensity and the sort of the commitment in our bilateral relations. We are very much looking forward to this conversation". 

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The past few weeks have witnessed high-level engagements, with India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar travelling to Berlin for talks with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and German Security and Foreign Policy Advisor Jens Plötner travelling to India for talks with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.

Also read: Germany boosts green energy ties with India ahead of Chancellor Scholz's visit

Both sides are also looking to firm up defence ties, especially via port calls by German vessels to Goa in a few days' time. Earlier on Tuesday (Oct 8), Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius spoke ahead of the latter's India visit for IGC. 

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Commenting on the defence minister's telephonic talks, Ambassador Ackermann said, "we have proven our commitment to India as a military strategic partner which has grown over the last couple of months".

He highlighted that the phone call was "basically preparation for the bilateral meeting both ministers will have later in the month. And I think on the table of the inter government consultations, you will see a lot of military and defence policy also". 

In an important first, the German air force participated in India's Tarang Shakti exercises in Tamil Nadu in August. Berlin’s participation was led by German Air Force chief Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz who flew a Eurofighter Typhoon for over five hours to land at Sulur Air Force Base. German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders together are contesting in a tender to build submarines for the Indian Navy.

Watch | Indian Girl Taken Away from Parents in Germany Three Years Ago

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Not only defence but sustainability forms another area of cooperation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Olaf in May 2022, announced the Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development, with emphasis on enhancing cooperation in renewable energy sectors, including solar, wind, and green hydrogen technologies. Germany was the partner country at the Re-Invest event in Gujarat, India's largest renewable energy sector event in August 2024.

Meanwhile, the ambassador spoke also on German foreign policy which aims at inclusivity. He said, "Germany's policy is indeed to try to increase the number of women in the diplomatic corps in order to make gender equality a big issue."