Mumbai: German ambassador to India Walter J Lindner on Thursday said that Germany would offer support to the Maharashtra government for the recovery of legacy structures and cultural heritage projects such as temples and fortresses.
Lindner, who arrived in Mumbai on a 2-day trip said that Mumbai will continue to be the backbone of the Indian economy in the world of postal pandemic.
Lindner, who spoke to this colaba Leopold Cafe, met Dabbawalas Mumbai’s famous Dabbawalas and also took the South Heritage Tour Mumbai on the new Electric Victoria train said that Germany was looking for more cinematic collaboration with Bollywood and wanted to encourage Germany as a destination for film shooting.
“I have met some prominent conservationists and we have supported cultural heritage conservation projects in other cities in India as well.
I will discuss how Germany can support the recovery of inheritance structures such as fortresses, temples and synagogues in Mumbai and Maharashtra.
After the dialogue with the Maharashtra government we will work on the list of structures, “Lindner said, who called himself a musician, the studio owner and photographer besides becoming a diplomat.
Lindner will also visit the TCS Research Center and get diplitary and innovation insights in the Indian IT industry.
“Mumbai will remain the backbone of the Indian economy even after a pandemic.
Mumbai is an international city and is known throughout the world.
Mumbai faces many challenges but his role will remain very important.
I will meet with several film producers and directors as well.
Bollywood films were shot in Switzerland and even in Hungary.
We want to drive film shooting in Germany.
There are many great locations there and we will explore cinematic cooperation with the film industry here.
Some films like Don 2 and Gully Boy have been shot in Germany.
I will brainstorm about this when I meet actors and entertainers.
There are many technical cooperation with the film industry in terms of cameras but we want to take it further, “Lindner said.
Lindner talks about the strong and deep Indo-German development and climate partnership.
“There will be no war against climate change without India.
Without India, we cannot save this planet because one of five people in the Life of the Earth in India.
We hope for extensive cooperation in front of this.
A new coalition in Germany even has a green party and liberals.
So actions against climate change will continue, “Lindner said.
Lindner said that in Germany, even though the era Angela Merkel had ended, Chancellor Olaf Scholz would take further Indian-German relations.
“We hope that Chancellor and cabinet members visit India immediately in the next six months.
There are big shoes to fill but the new Chancellor is very experienced and with him, Indian-German relations posing for further growth, “Lindner said.
Lindner said that in the negotiations of the recent government, Germany assured to support India with 1.3 billion euros to work together towards the agreed destination in COP26 and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
This means new projects and concrete in the field of renewable energy, biodiversity, decarbonition and more areas, said Lindner.
“The coalition formed among Social, Green and Liberal Democrats has completed an agreement to regulate the state and described the front of their roads in the coalition document released in Berlin at the end of November.
This document contains a strong reference to India and the importance of strengthening Indo-German strategic partnerships.
India mentioned very prominent in the coalition agreement, indicating ever developing the importance of partnerships between the two countries, “said the statement of the German Embassy.