And for a Friday ……. after a week in Germany with IGCC delegation & attending the AGM in Dusseldorf ….. some thoughts …. some musings……
Starkly different from previous times …. this year …. I sense a distinct gloomy mood in Germany …… the continuing almost 3 years of Ukrainian war…. ..multiple problems including the huge influx of refugees into Germany …. this crisis has been further exasperated by the Iran -US/Israel war ……. closing of the Hormuz straits ….energy crisis … structural shifts in manufacturing particularly the competition from China has resulted in inflation creeping up to 2.5 to 2.75% ….. Europe’s largest economy is already in technical recession …… with a very sluggish growth forecast of 0.5% in GDP … at best … this year …..
Europe in General & Germany in particular have a keen & abiding stake in accelerating the process to complete all the needed legal formalities For the EU-India Free Trade Agreement …..,,.Ofcourse there are still many areas to be covered but there is genuine interest to avail this unique opportunity for a historic shift in mutually beneficial trade & investments …. Currently more than 2000 German Companies in India & 800 Indian companies in Germany are operational ……. there is tremendous scope in the areas of Energy … Mobility …, Bio technology … ..Defense … Agriculture…..Construction ….Chemicals….Aerospace ……etcetc ….. India & Germany will both benefit ….. already more than 52000 Indian students are pursuing higher education in Germany …… also this country is suffering from massive skilled labour shortage …..Nurses … Electricians …. plumbers … medical technicians …. hospitality & entertainment industry workers etcetc …….Germany & India have signed Comprehensive Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreement ( MMPA) raising the annual skilled workers visa quota to 90,000 per year for Indians ……..
These are undoubtedly Tough times for all Nations …,,, but it also is a historic opportunity …. Let’s all support to further strengthen Germany -India relations…. the trusting way ….. the sustainable way ….. the SEEGOS way.