In a significant move, India and Germany are poised to broaden their trilateral partnership to encompass the African nations of Ethiopia and Madagascar. Chaman Dhanda, India’s Head for Trilateral Cooperation at GIZ (Germany’s official technical assistance agency), revealed that the collaborative efforts have thus far been concentrated on development projects in Peru, Ghana, Cameroon, and Malawi.
The ongoing projects showcase a diverse range, from empowering women in Malawi through agri-business to implementing agri-tech solutions for potato production in Cameroon.
The collaborative vision, as outlined in a joint declaration of intent released in May 2022, is to leverage individual strengths and experiences in development cooperation. The overarching objective is to deliver sustainable, viable, and inclusive projects to third countries, addressing development challenges and aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and SDG-related climate targets. This collaboration extends to multilateral institutions where both India and Germany are members, including the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Notably, discussions are underway to extend this successful collaboration to encompass Madagascar and Ethiopia, marking a strategic expansion of the trilateral partnership.
While the partnership has primarily centered on climate and sustainability in Africa, Germany is expressing keen interest in broadening its scope to include healthcare projects. Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary in Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, emphasized this expansion during a press interaction in New Delhi.
In addition to the African focus, there is openness to exploring potential projects in Asia. India has been actively pursuing trilateral cooperation with various nations, including the United States and France. This strategic approach aims to leverage technical capabilities and financial resources for mutual benefit.
Despite the momentum toward trilateral collaboration, India maintains a preference for bilateral development projects. This preference is grounded in the desire for swift implementation with minimal bureaucratic hurdles.
The evolving partnership signals a dynamic shift in international development cooperation, with both countries aiming to address pressing global challenges through joint, impactful initiatives.
