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Germany and India: bilateral relations

After the Second World War, India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Germany. Today, India regards Germany as an important partner in its quest for a new political role in the region and the world, for its ambitious economic reform programmes and for the development of the country’s industrial sector. Relations are based on the May 2000 Agenda for the Indo-German Partnership in the 21st Century, which has since been updated by further joint declarations. Of particular importance are the Indo‑German intergovernmental consultations, where the two countries’ Cabinets have held joint sessions every two years since 2011, alternately in Germany and India.
Germany is India’s most important trading partner in the EU and its sixth most important trading partner worldwide. Since India embarked on a course of reform and opened up its economy in 1991, the volume of trade between the two countries has increased rapidly.
Germany’s development cooperation with India remains a major component of bilateral relations. Despite the rapid economic development seen in recent years, around 22 percent of the population live below the poverty line, on less than 1.90 US dollars per day, while 58 percent have less than 3.10 US dollars per day at their disposal. Yet, several hundred million people have successfully escaped poverty over the last two decades. At the same time, however, industrialisation and urbanisation are causing serious damage to the environment. India is now the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
Development cooperation focuses on the following areas: energy, sustainable urban development and environmental and resource protection. In addition, German development cooperation supports the economic participation of women and the setting up of a practice-oriented (dual) vocational training system and provides stimulus for innovative approaches, e.g. in social policy or promoting start-ups.
Additional content

India is a partner country of German development cooperation. For more information please visit the website of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
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Indo-German Governmental Consultations, Joint Statement, New Delhi, 05 October 2015 PDF / 613 KB / File does not meet accessibility standards
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Indo-German Governmental Consultations, List of Agreements, New Delhi, 05 October 2015 PDF / 148 KB / File does not meet accessibility standards
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Joint Statement on the Further Development of the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Germany, 15 April 2015 PDF / 288 KB / File does not meet accessibility standards
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Joint Statement on the Further Development of the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Germany, 11 April 2013 PDF / 243 KB / File does not meet accessibility standards
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Joint Statement on the Further Development of the Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Germany, 30 October 2007 PDF / 28 KB / File does not meet accessibility standards
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Germany-India Joint Statement, Visit of the Prime Minister of India to Germany, 23 April 2006 PDF / 138 KB / File does not meet accessibility standards
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Agenda for Indo-German Partnership, 18 May 2000 PDF / 165 KB / File does not meet accessibility standards