German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited India from 24-26 October, 2024. This visit is part of the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC).[1] This was Scholz’s third visit to India since he became chancellor in 2021. In 2023 he visited India twice – bilateral visit in February and G20 leaders’ summit in September. India and Germany are celebrating 50 years of science and technology cooperation and 25 years of strategic partnership in 2025. This year’s motto: “Growing Together with Innovation, Mobility and Sustainability.”[2] About his visit to India, Scholz wrote on  social media platform X, “In this world we need friends and allies — just like India and Germany."[3]

The German government released a document prior to Scholz’s visit called "Focus on India".[4] It is a roadmap to enhance the bilateral relations on multiple sectors – foreign, security and trade. In July 2023 Germany released a Strategy on China paper but it was meant to primarily to reduce dependency on China.[5] Therefore, India’s focus paper which emphasises renewed interest to enhance the relationship between the two countries is indeed a valuable opportunity for both countries. 

During this visit, the following agreements were exchanged at the formal ceremony[6]:

- Mutual Legal assistance treaty

- Exchange and mutual protection of classified information.

- Indo-German Green Hydrogen Roadmap

- Roadmap on Innovation and Technology

- Joint Declaration of Intent in the field of employment and labour

- Joint Declaration of Intent for Joint Cooperation in research and development on advanced material

- Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of skill development and vocational education training

- Joint declaration of intent on Indo-German green urban mobility partnership for all

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz inaugurated 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business in New Delhi. Later Scholz  visited Goa because German naval frigate "Baden-Württemberg" and combat support ship "Frankfurt am Main" were to make a pre-scheduled port call as part of Germany's Indo-Pacific deployment,”[7] German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is also looking for a six-psubmarine deal from India despite competition from a Spanish company Navantia.

Filling the vacuum

India has emerged as a valued partner of the West primarily post Cold War. A lot of it can be attributed to India’s emerging economic status during the liberalisation and globalisation era. Additionally the threat of China is a factor where the West and India share similar strategic concerns. India’s adherence to rule of law and democratic values  - although compromised lately on various grounds - have provided the country with an additional edge that its partners prefer to nourish. And in this scheme of things Germany is no exception. 

One primary area where cooperation is being sought is skilled labour. Although a huge power economy in the European bloc, Germany is currently suffering from labour shortages, primarily in the skilled sector.There lies is a huge opportunity for India to fill the vacuum.

Source: https://www.ifo.de/en/facts/2024-03-20/germanys-shortage-skilled-workers-eases-slightly

Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341022/most-vacancies-professions-germany/  [8]

 

More people to people exchanges 

This is one of the areas where people-to people cooperation will eventually increase in the future. Such a move will be beneficial to both the countries. India emerging as a counter to China in the geopolitical balance implies more areas of cooperation among similar ideological ecosystems. It is at this juncture that hard power may not be adequate to address the challenges that come along with such people to people exchanges. Exploring the option of soft power between the two countries is an open arena.

While the focus of any such bilateral relationships rests heavily on hard power and more ‘serious’ stuff, I would like to draw attention towards India’s extensive soft power which remains largely untapped when it comes to the relationship with Germany, primarily because of the language barrier. As the world sees new wars,  ideological confrontations, hatred towards communities and majority-minority clashes, it is important to reconsider the basics – people-to-people contact to dispel the mist of doubts, apprehensions and stereotypes. This will ensure a smooth transition for any Indian labour migration to Germany, especially in the skilled sector. 

The following are certain areas where work needs to be done:

Student community – growing number of Indian students are moving to Germany to pursue higher education. There are multiple reasons for this: Low cost of education, since education is highly subsidised in Germany; better technical education and of course a global and international exposure. Favourite destinations like the UK, USA and Canada are almost on the path of exhaustion, English language being the most attractive criteria which allowed smooth transition for Indians. More exchanges on language teaching – in India, German language courses and similarly in Germany, Indian language courses - should be more widely available.

Small Scale focus - India should concentrate more on the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Small and medium size industries are yet another sector which has largely remained unexplored. Many German industries’ markets have a huge presence of small scale industries. India can tap into that area and encourage more bilateral exchanges. This provides India with not just further employment domestically but renews its own small and medium sized industries through adequate skill training from experienced German markets. It requires comparatively less investment, allows more informal people to people contact,       enhancing the scope of exploring each other’s culture which might somewhat get overlooked within big corporate set-ups.

Entertainment Industry - The vibrant Indian film industry travels to myriad shooting locations. Germany can be promoted to be the next shooting destination which would enable not just people to people contact but more wide ranging primary investment and secondary revenue in terms of hospitality and logistics. This is in addition to sharing the cultural aspects between the two nations which is otherwise highly dominated by Hollywood.

Cuisine and Culinary- Food is another area which remains largely unstructured. While there are individual attempts to open Indian restaurants in Germany, they primarily serve the economic interest of the individuals. It lacks vision. Similarly restaurants specialising in German cuisine are not too common in India. Even if there are, they primarily cater to the upper middle class and the economic elites. Government to government involvement can draw a structured road map where such initiatives play a vital role in cultural knowledge exchange. And what better way to do that other than food.

Sport – Two fanatical sports lovers, especially of cricket and football, can come together. Growing up in West Bengal I am not alien to football and the marquee Mohun Bagan and East Bengal matches (better to say clashes!). Across India German football is a much followed sport. How about inviting German football clubs to India? Similarly with the growing Indian population in Germany, many Indians would love to get a taste of cricket, something which they are so used to witnessing in Australia or England. How about organising a friendly cricket match with some of the best names of the game? Indians in Germany would invite their German friends and acquaintances to such a match and that is how the network and interest will find more substantial ground.

Moving beyond stereotypes

Germany  is not just about holocaust, beer, football, cars or high-end technology. There are lots of things to explore and exploit, in the good sense of the term. Similarly, India has moved way beyond Bollywood, chicken curry or Holi and Diwali. There is much more to explore. By shying away from doing so, the myths will persist, the stereotypes will continue, the fears will enhance. And issues like migration, skin colour and identity politics will continue to dominate the political discourse.

And in this ever increasing world of individualism and polarisation we are seeking company. A company of people who may not look like us but who do not question our being because they already know who we are, what we eat, what we love to watch and how we think.

Germany and India are two countries that are yet to know each other sufficiently enough to enjoy each other’s company; yet initiatives which encourage people’s participation can always be mutually beneficial. While the recent visit of German Chancellor Scholz is encouraging, there are areas that require further comprehensive policy engagement. The two governments should work more closely to at least allow such spaces to be explored and nurtured.

(The writer is a Ph.D. in political science from University of Bonn, Germany, author and founder Green Zeit. Views are personal. She can be reached at mail.suparnabanerjee@gmail.com) 

 

[1] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India retrieved from https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/38440

[2] Federal Foreign Office, Government of Germany retrieved from Joint Statement: 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) - Federal Foreign Office

[3] Vaid, Dharvi. (25th Oct 2024). Germany's Scholz, India's Modi meet in New Delhi. DW retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-scholz-and-indias-modi-aim-to-increase-economic-military-cooperation/a-70595432

[4] The Federal Government. (16th Oct 2024). Focus on India. Retrieved from https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/resource/blob/2680288/8909ac2c501ab85d55defff7d1b8b75d/241016-fokus-indien-data.pdf

[5] Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. (2023). Strategy on China. Retrieved from https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/resource/blob/2608580/49d50fecc479304c3da2e2079c55e106/china-strategie-en-data.pdf

[6] Kumaraswamy, Sridhar.(Oct 25,2024). India, Germany Sign 8 Pacts. Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved from
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/world/india-germany-partnership-a-strong-anchor-in-turbulent-times-modi-1832939

[7] Vaid, Dharvi. (25th Oct 2024). Germany's Scholz, India's Modi meet in New Delhi. DW retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-scholz-and-indias-modi-aim-to-increase-economic-military-cooperation/a-70595432

[8] Statista. (Sept, 2024).Professions with the most open positions on the job market in Germany in September 2024. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1341022/most-vacancies-professions-germany/