10. Treffen der Indisch-Deutschen Arbeitsgruppe: Ein Jahrzehnt Partnerschaft im Bereich Qualitätsinfrastruktur

Advancing Trust, Standards, and Innovation Through a Decade of Dialogue

From 14 to 16 July 2025, a high-level delegation from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), led by Deputy Director-General Dr. Ole Janssen, visited India to mark a major milestone in bilateral cooperation—the 10th Annual Meeting of the Indo-German Working Group on Quality Infrastructure (QI).
Taking place across Mumbai and New Delhi, the three-day programme brought together policymakers, industry representatives, and technical experts from both countries. The visit served to review progress, exchange ideas, and set future priorities in the Indo-German partnership on QI—a crucial system that ensures products and services are safe, reliable, and internationally competitive.
The German delegation engaged in diverse formats that reflected the multifaceted nature of QI cooperation. In Mumbai, roundtable discussions hosted by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) gave businesses the opportunity to share their practical experiences and regulatory challenges. A site visit to a Digital Factory offered real-world insights into how cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies are reshaping manufacturing, and how QI systems must adapt in tandem. In New Delhi, the delegation held a technical dialogue with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to explore enhanced cooperation on standardization, certification, and alignment with international standards.  
The highlight of the visit was the formal 10th Annual Meeting of the Working Group, co-chaired by Mr. Bharat Khera, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCA), and Dr. Janssen from BMWE. The meeting celebrated ten years of robust cooperation and resulted in the adoption of the Annual Work Plan for 2025–26. Key outcomes included a shared commitment to advancing digitalization in quality infrastructure—particularly through initiatives like the Digital Product Passport—as well as continued efforts to reduce technical trade barriers, improve regulatory predictability, and ensure closer alignment on international standards, especially in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Accompanying the German delegation were experts from some of Germany’s leading QI institutions: DIN (German Institute for Standardization), DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies), and  DAkkS (German Accreditation Body). Their technical expertise helped drive meaningful dialogue and contribute to practical outcomes throughout the visit.
Quality Infrastructure—comprising standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment, metrology, product safety, and market surveillance—is essential to a well-functioning economy. It underpins the quality and safety of goods and services and helps industries access global markets, promote innovation, and build trust with consumers.
As the Indo-German partnership enters its second decade, both countries reaffirm their commitment to strengthening cooperation on QI as a foundation for sustainable trade, innovation, and economic growth.