In a bid to broaden their development partnership, India and Germany are poised to engage in trilateral cooperation with the African nations of Ethiopia and Madagascar, marking a significant expansion of their joint efforts beyond Latin America.
This announcement follows successful collaborations in Peru, Ghana, Cameroon, and Malawi, focusing on projects like empowering women in Malawian agriculture and promoting sustainable potato production in Cameroon using innovative technologies.
“Our aim is to leverage each other’s strengths and expertise to offer sustainable, inclusive solutions for developing countries,” the two nations declared in a joint statement last May.
This commitment extends to tackling climate challenges and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, both independently and through shared platforms like the International Solar Alliance.
While climate and sustainability have been the cornerstones of the Indo-German partnership, Germany now seeks to expand the scope to include healthcare initiatives and research in Africa, as revealed by Jochen Flasbarth, Germany’s development cooperation secretary. This aligns with India’s own growing focus on health projects in its bilateral development partnerships.
Furthermore, the partnership is looking beyond Africa and Latin America, exploring potential collaborations in Asia. India has actively pursued trilateral partnerships with other nations like the United States and France, strategically leveraging their technical and financial resources. Mint previously reported plans for cooperation with America, Australia, and France in the Pacific Islands, and ongoing discussions with the UK under the Global Innovation Partnership to harness Indian innovation for development in third countries.
While India readily embraces trilateral cooperation for strategic gains, particularly in its neighborhood, it remains partial to bilateral partnerships for their swift implementation and reduced bureaucratic hurdles. Mint has learned that a list of target countries for the current expansion is expected early next year, with Sri Lanka’s renewable energy projects a potential area of collaboration.
As India and Germany deepen their development partnership, their combined expertise and resources hold immense promise for advancing sustainable solutions and empowering communities in emerging nations like Ethiopia and Madagascar. This expanded cooperation exemplifies the growing commitment of both countries to addressing global challenges and fostering inclusive development worldwide.