A Journey of Indo-German Friendship

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You need mutual respect, trust, understanding, and support for any relationship to flourish. The relationship can be between two individuals or even two nations. The key aspects remain the same. You can witness these qualities in the friendship between two defining nations, India and Germany. Both these countries place great emphasis on their strategic partnership by nurturing it across various areas of mutual benefit that includes food and nutrition security, setting up green energy corridors, and so on.

India and Germany have a lot of things in common as they share democratic values, and seek a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. However, global challenges await both these countries as they celebrate six decades of developmental cooperation in 2018. They need to discuss issues and find ways to ensure a more stable and inclusive world. As part of the Diamond Jubilee of our friendship, it is time to go down Memory Lane and retrace the journey of Indo-German friendship.

 We shall go through the timeline of the Indo-German relationship since 1886, and see how the friendship has blossomed over the years

 1886 – The beginning

 The opening of the first consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kolkata (Calcutta), India was in 1886.

1951 – The Cementing of the Relationship

 India was among the first nations to recognize the Federal Republic in the aftermath of World War II with the establishment of the German Consulate General in Mumbai (known as Bombay at that time).

 1952 – Opening of Embassy

Germany had its first full-fledged embassy in India in Delhi in 1952.

 1956 – Start of a Bilateral Friendship

 India initiated the bilateral friendship between the two nations when the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Germany to meet its first Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer. The year 1956 witnessed the formation of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce.  

1957 – This year saw the setting up of first Max Mueller Bhavan in India in Kolkata.

1958 – Start of the Indo-German Development Cooperation

We celebrate 60 years of our partnership today that commenced with the starting of the Indo-German Development Cooperation in 1958.

1959 – The First Beneficiaries

The earliest beneficiaries of the Indo-German Development Cooperation were the Rourkela Steel Plant and the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (now Chennai), set up with the assistance from Germany for providing vocational training to Indian youth.

1969 – The Reciprocal Visit

 Chancellor Willy Brandt visited India to give final shape and sign the cultural agreement with India.

 1971 – Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Germany to sign the S&T agreement to mark the beginning of the cooperation in science and technology. It resulted in the formation of the Indo-German Parliamentary Friendship Group in the German Parliament.

1986 – This year marked the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Chancellor Helmut Kohl in India.

 1991 – India’s defining moment, the year of economic reforms, enabled an increase in trade cooperation.

1994 – The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) helped in setting up of the Tagore Centre in Berlin.

2000 – The turn of the century saw both the countries adopting the ‘Agenda for the Indo-German Partnership in the 21st Century’ thereby laying the platform for the development of a strategic partnership.

 2006 – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had the honour of inaugurating the Hannover Messe along with Chancellor Angela Merkel. This year marked the signing of the Indo-Germany Defence Cooperation Agreement and the establishment of the Indo-German Energy Forum.

 2010 – Both the countries came together to jointly fund the formation of the Indo-German Science & Technology Centre.

2011 – India and Germany hold Intergovernmental Consultations every two years, the first of which was in 2011 in New Delhi. In addition to strengthening the ties between these two countries, there is the signing of various important MoUs. This year also marked the 60th year of friendship between India and Germany. The celebrations saw the conducting of events, “Year of Germany in India” (2011-12) and “Days of India” (2012-13) in Germany.

 2013 – The Second Intergovernmental Consultation saw the finalizing of ten MoUs in various fields such as vocational education and training, science and technology, railways, and renewable energy. The noted musician, Zubin Mehta, and the Bavarian State Orchestra participated in the landmark concert organized by the German Embassy, New Delhi at the Shalimar Gardens in Srinagar, Kashmir.

2015 – The third Intergovernmental Consultation in 2015 saw Chancellor Angela Merkel visiting New Delhi where both the countries reiterated their commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals. The important topics of discussion were renewable energy and use of electric vehicles to ensure climate-friendly urban development.    

2017 – The fourth Intergovernmental Consultation in Berlin witnessed the signing of 12 MoUs in various fields.


2018 – 2018 is the Diamond Jubilee Year of the Indo-German Development Cooperation. A state visit by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the highlight of the celebrations of continued friendship between India and Germany.  

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