IGEF Subgroup IV on Green Energy Corridors

On 16 June 2020, a virtual meeting was held between the Co-Chairs of the IGEF Subgroup IV “Green Energy Corridors”, Ms. Anu Mathia, Adviser of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and her German counterpart, Mr. Philip Knill, Head of India and South Asia Division of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The objective of the Subgroup meeting was to introduce the Co-Chairs to each other, to familiarise the new Indian Co-Chair with IGEF and with the topics of Subgroup IV on Green Energy Corridors (GEC), and lastly, to take stock of ongoing discussions as well as of challenges ahead. The German support programs on combating the effects of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in India were also touched upon. Hereafter, Mr. Knill (BMZ) outlined the history and status of the ongoing Indo-German cooperation on GEC for which BMZ through KfW had provided concessional financing to Indian partners amounting to EUR 1 billion. He also informed the Indian Co-Chair of the additional funds committed by Germany to India for further GEC projects amounting to EUR 400 million and concluded with the challenging deadlines connected to some of the GEC II commitments. Both sides reiterated their full commitment to GEC and agreed on next steps, especially with regard to the open questions concerning the financing structure of GEC II. As a result of the decisions taken during the meeting, a call between a bigger group of relevant Indian and German officials took place on 26 June 2020 in which the way forward on GEC II was discussed and agreed upon.

IN