India Germany to co-chair 7th Intergovernmental Consultations today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will co-chair the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi today. Chancellor Scholz arrived in New Delhi last night on a three-day visit to India. The IGC is a whole-of-government framework under which Ministers from both sides hold discussions in their respective areas of responsibility and report on the outcome of their deliberations to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor.

Both leaders will also hold bilateral talks today to discuss enhanced security and defence cooperation, deeper economic cooperation, Green and Sustainable Development Partnership and collaboration in the area of emerging and strategic technologies. Both leaders will also



address the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business.

The IGC  format was launched in 2011 and allows for a comprehensive review of cooperation and identification of new areas of engagement at the Cabinet level. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has such a mechanism. 

The 7th IGC is expected to have a strong technology focus with the key elements being sustainability and green transition, migration and mobility, and technology and innovation. Increased collaboration in new and emerging technologies is also expected. In addition, focus will also be on enhancing defence and security cooperation.