India and Germany
India and Germany have signed an important agreement to strengthen cooperation in the telecom and digital sectors. It has been called Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI), the objective of which is to deepen the partnership between the two countries in the field of telecommunications and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
This agreement has been reached after the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The German Chancellor was on an official visit to India between 12 and 13 January. The agreement was signed by Telecom Secretary Amit Agarwal from the Indian side and German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann from the German side.
Strengthening India-Germany relations
According to the government, this agreement shows the increasing strength in India-Germany relations. Both the countries will now not only exchange ideas in the field of telecom and digital technology, but will also work together on new and emerging technologies. This includes areas like advanced technology like 5G/6G, digital infrastructure, cyber security, regulatory framework and telecom manufacturing.
Under this agreement, there will be regular meetings between the two countries and special working groups will be formed for this. Along with the government, industry, research institutes and academicians will also be included in these groups, so that cooperation is not limited to papers only but results can also be seen on the ground.
An important step towards digital development
India and Germany will also prepare a joint work plan, in which priorities and goals will be clearly decided. Apart from this, both the countries will also work together on international forums, so that a common vision can be taken forward on issues related to telecom and digital development. The government says that this agreement is an important step towards inclusive and sustainable digital development for both the countries. This will not only increase technical cooperation, but will also strengthen innovation, investment and digital ecosystem.