Finance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday and stated that Berlin has decided to boost the number of visas for qualified Indians from 20,000 to 90,000 per year.
Scholz landed late Thursday night and is on a three-day visit to India.
Speaking at the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses, also attended by Scholz, Modi said: “Two of the world’s leading economies, together we can become a force for global good, and the Focus on India document provides a blueprint for this. In this, Germany’s holistic approach and commitment to pursuing the strategic partnership are clearly evident. Especially noteworthy is the trust that Germany has expressed in the skilled workforce of India. Germany has decided to increase the number of visas for skilled Indians from 20,000 to 90,000 per year. I am confident that this will further boost Germany’s economic growth.”
Later, the two leaders conducted bilateral meetings in which they discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as the conflict in West Asia. India and Germany signed agreements on mutual legal assistance and secret information, as well as a roadmap for green hydrogen.
PM Modi stated that this year commemorates the 25th anniversary of India-Germany’s strategic cooperation and that the next 25 years will take this partnership to new heights.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the release of the “Focus on India” document by the German Cabinet, which outlines how two strong democracies and leading economies can cooperate for global good.
“I am happy that at such a crucial time, the German Cabinet has released the Focus on India document. The Focus on India document is a blueprint of how the world’s two strong democracies, the world’s two leading economies, can together become a force for global good. It clearly reflects the approach and commitment to take the strategic partnership forward in a holistic manner. The trust that Germany has shown in India’s skilled manpower is especially amazing,” he said.
PM Modi also expressed confidence that Germany’s decision to increase visas for skilled Indians will boost its growth.
“Germany has decided to increase the number of visas given to skilled Indians every year from 20 thousand to 90 thousand. I am confident that this will give a new impetus to Germany’s growth,” he said.
“Our mutual trade has reached a level of more than 30 billion dollars. Today, on one hand, hundreds of German companies are in India, while Indian companies are also rapidly increasing their presence in Germany. Today, India is becoming the biggest centre of diversification and de-risking. India is also becoming a hub of global trade and manufacturing. In such a situation, this is the most appropriate time for you to Make in India, Make for the World,” PM Modi said.
The PM recalled that this was Scholz’s third visit to India and marked the “triple celebration” of the friendship between India and Germany. Scholz visited India twice last year — for a bilateral state visit in February and to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September.
After the talks, eight documents were signed — mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters, agreement on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information, Indo-German green hydrogen roadmap, roadmap on innovation and technology, and declarations on employment and labour, R&D on advanced materials, green urban mobility and skill development.
“Our overall message is clear, we need more cooperation, not less,” Scholz said. “At our intergovernmental consultations with India, we also want to deepen cooperation in defence and agree to bring our militaries together,” he said.
Advocating faster conclusion of the India-EU FTA, Scholz said: “India and Germany both benefit in equal measure from this good and trusting cooperation. This is especially true for the field of economic ties. Germany has become India’s most important trading partner in the European Union, and I’m determined to further strengthen and build on this link and cooperation… As Chancellor, I strongly favour an ambitious Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union. I believe that both sides would benefit, and it should be our ambition to make headway in that regard.”
Source: IE
