Germany and India’s relationship is built on mutual respect, shared values and support in a spirit of partnership. Germany and India are key partners and cooperate on issues such as climate change, counterterrorism, a sustainable global economic order and reform of the United Nations.

India was one of the first countries with which the Federal Republic of Germany established diplomatic relations. It regards Germany as an important partner for its ambitious economic reform programmes, the energy transition, and research and technology. The strategic partnership is based on the Agenda for the Indo-German Partnership in the 21^st Century, which was adopted in May 2000 and updated by further joint declarations, most recently by the signing of the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement. The Indo-German intergovernmental consultations, which have brought together the countries’ Cabinets every two years since 2011, are the key forum. Germany is the only country with which India maintains dialogue like this. In 2024, the German Government adopted the strategy paper “Focus on India”, setting itself an ambitious agenda to further expand Indo-German cooperation.

India has one of the fastest growing economies and by 2027 will likely be the third largest economy in the world. Germany is India’s prime trading partner in the EU.

At the same time, industrialisation and urbanisation are causing serious damage to the environment. India is now the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The country does however have ambitious targets for expanding renewable energy. These two issues are addressed in the Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development, signed by Federal Chancellor Scholz and Indian Prime Minister Modi on 2 May 2022.

Germany’s development cooperation with India remains a major component of bilateral relations. In addition to the energy transition and climate action, we thus support the economic participation of women, the setting up of a practice-oriented vocational training system and provide stimulus for innovative approaches, e.g. by promoting start-ups.