German Chancellor Olaf Scholz concluded his trip to India on Saturday with 27 new cooperation agreements between the two countries in place.
In his final events, the chancellor spoke to students in the western state of Goa before paying tribute to German sailors currently circumnavigating the globe.
Scholz was accompanied on his three-day visit by several cabinet ministers, who signed agreements expanding cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, research and defence during government consultations in New Delhi.
The delegation also advocated for skilled workers for the German labour market and pressed for swifter EU negotiations with India over a free trade agreement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi summed up the state of relations between the two countries in German with the succinct phrase: “Alles klar, alles gut,” which is the equivalent of “It’s all good.”
With more than 1.4 billion inhabitants, India is the most populous country and the fifth largest economy in the world.
Scholz – who was visiting India for the third time in his nearly three-year tenure – said there was “plenty of potential” for trade and investment between the two countries.
Scholz thanks sailors in Goa and backs arms exports
The Frankfurt am Main naval supply ship and the Baden-Württemberg frigate – both part of the German Navy – arrived in Goa on Saturday after days of joint exercises with the Indian Navy.
Scholz said the ships are contributing to ensuring the freedom of global maritime traffic.
“It’s important that our navy is involved in this to show that it is something that we strive for together,” the chancellor said.
The two ships departed Germany’s North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven on May 7, crossed the Atlantic and passed the Panama Canal to the Pacific.
They then passed through the Taiwan Strait, before entering Mormugao Port in Goa on Saturday.
Having concluded a strategic partnership more than 20 years ago, Germany and India and are now aiming to intensify their cooperation, including in arms exports.
“This will play a larger role in the future, and it is right that it should,” Scholz said.
Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is hoping to participate in the construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy. While a declaration of intent was agreed last year, the Indian government is yet to make a decision.
European aerospace giant Airbus is also seeking to sell its A400M transports to India. Negotiations on a possible contract are still in the early stages.
Scholz speaks of difficulties in Germany’s coalition
The chancellor also commented on relations within Germany during his trip, ruefully acknowledging the difficulties in managing Germany’s unwieldy three-party coalition in response to a question from a student in Goa on Saturday.
“Sometimes it is quite difficult. And I will be very honest: The coalition government I am running is not the easiest in the world,” Scholz said while on a visit to a technology institute.
“I try my best,” he added with a laugh.
German labour minister touts recruitment of skilled Indian workers
Also on Saturday, German Labour Minister Hubertus Heil said the recruitment of skilled Indian workers for the German economy could serve as a model for other countries.
“We have for the first time deliberately developed a strategy to show this large country how qualified immigration in large numbers can work in practice,” Heil told dpa in New Delhi.
If successful, the strategy could be transferred to other countries seeking migration deals with Germany, he added.
Heil travelled to India as part of the German government delegation led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
He said his mission had been to ensure that India, Germany and would-be migrants all benefited from the talks.
The German government is aiming to attract Indian workers to fill vacancies in its struggling economy by removing bureaucratic hurdles.
Demographic change in Germany means that the country will need to replace 6 million workers by 2035, Heil said. Otherwise, worker shortages would become a “brake on growth,” he said.
Heil noted that a million people come onto the Indian labour market every month.
India has particular significance for Germany on account of its size and the 20-year strategic partnership between the two countries, Heil said.
He emphasized, however, that Germany does not want to alienate other countries in the region through its focus on India.
