German Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel India visit

Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany to India

Ques: German Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel was on India visit recently. How many number of agreement/MoU signed between both countries?

a. 17
b. 20
c. 18
d. 15

Ans: c

Related facts:

  • October 4-6, 2015 German Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel was on India visit.
  • Important to know that this was her first India visit after the new Govt formed in India.
  • Globally & Bilaterally, Germany is one of India’s most important partner.
  • Economic and commercial relations between India and Germany are since early 16th century.
  • During 2014, bilateral trade between the two countries was worth 15.96 billion euros.
  • Germany is India’s 8th largest foreign direct investor since 2000.
  • In 2014, German direct foreign investment in India was about 1.15 billion US dollars.
  • Important to know that the Indo-German partnerships are over 1600 and 600 Indo-German joint ventures are operating in India.
  • October 5, 2015 the German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended the third Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) meeting between India and Germany held in New Delhi.
  • Earlier, first and second inter-governmental consultation meetings were held in New Delhi in 2011 and Berlin in 2013 respectively.
  • They outlined their common vision and cooperative action in a separate Joint Statement on Cooperation in Climate Change and Energy Technology.
  • Germany has provided 360 million Euros for sustainable urban development in 2015.
  • Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for Germany’s assistance in developmental projects over the years, including the new German commitment of 1.490 billion Euro.
  • The leaders expressed satisfaction at the successful implementation of the “Green Energy Corridors” Project, which has been expanded by 400 million Euro.
  • India welcomed Germany’s readiness to assist in meeting its renewable energy target under the umbrella of the Solar Partnership with 1 billion Euro over the next five years.
  • Germany’s also shown intention to initially commit 120 million Euro for a project in the upper Ganga River Basin aiming at a comprehensive improvement of the environmental situation in selected cities in the Ganga river basin.
  • October 5, 2015 the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and the German Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel had bilateral talk in New Delhi.
  • Following are the list of agreement signed between both countries:

A – Governmental Agreements

  1. Summary Record of the Negotiations on Development Cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
  2. Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Republic of India on Indo-German Development Cooperation Regarding the Indo-German Solar Energy Partnership.
  3. Joint Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Republic of India, on one Hand, and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Republic of Germany, on the other Hand, on Cooperation in the Field of Skill Development and Vocational Education and Training.
  4. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of India and the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany on Security Cooperation.
  5. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Republic of India and the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany on Aviation Security.
  6. Joint Declaration of Intent between the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of India and the Federal Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany on Cooperation in the Field of Disaster Management.
  7. Joint Declaration between the Ministry of Science and Technology (Government of the Republic of India) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Government of the Federal Republic of Germany) on the extension of the tenure of the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC).
  8. Memorandum of Understanding between University Grants Commission (UGC), India and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Germany on Indo-German Partnerships in Higher Education (IGP).
  9. Joint Declaration of Intent between the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, (MoA&FW), Government of India, and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) of the Federal Republic of Germany on Plant Protection Products.
  10. Joint Declaration of Intent on the further Development of the Cooperation in the Field of Railways between the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Ministry of Railways of the Republic of India.
  11. Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Government of India, and Fraunhofer Society, Germany on cooperation in the field of manufacturing.
  12. Joint Announcement on setting up a Fast-Track system for German companies in India.
  13. Joint Declaration between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the Republic of India on the continuation of the cooperation in the field of advanced training of corporate executives and junior executives from India.
  14. Joint Declaration of Intent between the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Republic of India and the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany regarding the Promotion of German as a Foreign Language in India and the Promotion of Modern Indian Languages in Germany.B – Agreements between other institutions
  15. Joint Statement of Intent on Cooperation in Food Safety between the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BFR) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
  16. Joint Statement of Intent between the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) on Cooperation in Food Safety.
  17. Memorandum of Understanding between the German Agribusiness Alliance and Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) on Cooperation in Agricultural Studies.
  18. Letter of Intent between the Department of Science and Technology, Government of the Republic of India (DST), the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings (Council), and the Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings (Foundation) on supporting participation of Indian young scientists in Natural Sciences for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings.

Reference:

http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-detail.htm?25887/Joint+Statement++Third+India+Germany+InterGovernmental+Consultations+IGC+in+New+Delhi+October+05+2015
http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-detail.htm?25882/Prime+Ministers+Statement+to+the+Media+during+the+visit+of+Chancellor+Angela+Merkel+of+Federal+Republic+of+Germany+to+India+October+05+2015
http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-detail.htm?25893/Speech+by+Prime+Minister+at+the+IndoGerman+Summit+2015+in+Bengaluru+October+6+2015
http://www.mea.gov.in/incoming-visit-detail.htm?25883/List+of+AgreementsMOUs+signed+during+the+visit+of+Chancellor+of+Federal+Republic+of+