Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that whenever the world faces a problem, India comes forward with a solution. He called it the strength of New India. Interacting with Indian community at Berlin in Germany last night, Mr Modi said, there is a need to follow the mantra of minimum government and maximum governance. He stressed that a country progresses when people of the nation proactively work towards developing it. He also stated that he is reducing burden of government and letting people give direction to new India.
Prime Minister Modi reached Germany yesterday on the first leg of his visit to three-European nations.
Addressing the Indian diaspora, Mr Modi said, political will is needed for reform. He highlighted that from 200 to 400 startups 8 years ago, India today has 68 thousand startups. He said, today India not only has many unicorns but is also turning them into Decacorns. The Prime Minister said, India has achieved a record-breaking 1.68 lakh crore rupees in GST collections for the month of April showing the strength of one nation one tax. He said India’s vocal for local campaigns today is reminiscent of the Swadeshi Movement during the struggle for Independence.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi co-chaired a Business Round Table with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. In his remarks, the Prime Minister emphasized the broad-based reforms carried out by his Government. He invited the business leaders to invest in India’s youth. The event saw participation of high representatives from the Governments and selected CEOs from both sides. Discussions were held on topics ranging from climate cooperation, supply chains, research, and development.
Prime Minister Modi and the German Chancellor also co-chaired the sixth edition of the India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) yesterday. The biennial IGC is a unique dialogue format that also sees participation of several Ministers from both sides. This was the Prime Minister’s first IGC with Chancellor Scholz and also the first such Government-to-Government consultations of the new German Government, which assumed office in December last year.
Prime Minister Modi also held bilateral discussions with Chancellor Scholz. Both leaders reviewed the full range of bilateral ties between India and Germany, including giving an impetus to trade as well as cultural linkages.
In the joint press statement, following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi said, as democracies, India and Germany share common values. He said, based on these shared values and common interests, India-Germany bilateral relations have made remarkable progress over the years. On the Ukraine crisis, Mr Modi said, India has from the very beginning called for a ceasefire as it believes dialogue is the only way forward. He said, no party can emerge victorious out of this conflict and therefore, India supports peace. He said, India is very concerned about the humanitarian impact of this war.
Mr Modi said, the Inter-Governmental Consultations held between India and Germany has given new direction to their Partnership. He informed that Germany has committed to support Green Goal Plans of India.
The German Chancellor invited Prime Minister Modi to G-7 summit to be held in Germany. He said, India’s role is important in global economy and climate change talks. He said, the world can only develop if future relations are characterized and marked by many countries and not by a few powerful countries.
Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Scholz signed the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) establishing the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership. This Partnership envisages a whole-of-government approach to India-Germany cooperation on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action, under which Germany has agreed to make an advance commitment of 10 billion Euros of new and additional development assistance until 2030. This JDI will also create a Ministerial mechanism within the framework of the IGC to provide high-level coordination and political direction to the Partnership. A number of agreements were concluded during the Ministerial bilateral meetings.
In a joint statement adopted after the Inter-Governmental Consultations, both India and Germany highlighted the importance of an effective rules-based international order with the United Nations and the fundamental principles of international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. They reaffirmed their determination to strengthen and reform multilateralism to tackle current and future challenges, defend peace and stability globally, bolster international law, and defend the fundamental principles of peaceful settlement of conflicts and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Both leaders highlighted their commitment to economic recovery from the COVID pandemic. They emphasized on their firm commitment to the objective of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. India and Germany welcomed the deepening of the strategic cooperation between India and the EU. Germany and India expressed their serious concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and unequivocally condemned civilian deaths there.
In Afghanistan, both sides expressed their serious concern about the humanitarian situation, the resurgence of violence, including targeted terrorist attacks, the systemic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the hampered access of girls and women to education.
After his Germany visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Denmark today, on the second leg of his visit to three-European nations. Prime Minister Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen today. Both leaders will review the progress of the Green Strategic Partnership which was the first of its kind arrangement between India and Denmark. He will also call on Queen Margrethe II. The visit will provide both sides an opportunity to shape new elements of partnership in the field of skill development, shipping, Agri technology, and mobility.
Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will participate in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit being hosted by Denmark. The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario, and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region. Nordic countries are important partners for India in sustainability, renewable energy, digitization, and innovation. The visit will help in expanding India’s multifaceted cooperation with the Nordic region. Our correspondent has filed this report.
AIR correspondent reports that this visit will provide India and Denmark an opportunity to review progress, as well as examine ways to further expand their multifaceted cooperation. This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Denmark and third summit-level interaction with the Danish Prime Minister. During the course of the day, Prime Minister will attend an India-Denmark Business Forum and also address members of the Indian diaspora. The discussions will focus on bilateral issues as well as issues of global and regional interest. The bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark has grown by 78 percent, from 2.8 billion US dollars in 2016 to five billion US Dollars in 2021. The major export items from India to Denmark are textiles, apparel, vehicles and components, metal goods, iron and steel, footwear, and travel goods.
On the last leg of the tour, the Prime Minister will briefly stopover in Paris and meet French President Emmanuel Macron. The visit to France will provide an opportunity to carry forward the high level of engagement between the two countries posts the French Presidential elections.