\ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius on Tuesday reviewed the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation activities between both nations and explored ways to enhance the collaboration, particularly defence industrial partnership.
During his meeting with Pistorius here, Singh highlighted the opportunities that have opened up in the defence production sector, including the possibilities for German investments in the two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
“The Indian defence industry could participate in the supply chains of the German defence industry and add value to the ecosystem, besides contributing to supply chain resilience,” a Defence Ministry release quoted Singh as saying.
He also stressed that India and Germany could build a more symbiotic relationship based on shared goals and complementarity of strength, namely skilled workforce and competitive costs from India and high technologies and investment from Germany.
India and Germany have strategic partnership since 2000, which is being strengthened through Inter-Governmental Consultations since 2011 at the level of Heads of Government, the Ministry said.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, including Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, participated in the delegation-level meeting. From the German side, State Secretary from the Ministry of Defence Benedikt Zimmer, apart from senior officials and the German Ambassador to India, were present. This is the first visit of a German Defence Minister to India since 2015.
The bilateral meeting was preceded by a Tri-Service Guard of Honour to the visiting dignitary.
Pistorius arrived in India on Monday, on a four-day visit.
