Training young India next govt's huge responsibility: Steiner

The next Indian government has an "enormous responsibility" of educating and training its majority youth population and Germany sees this demographic dividend of India as the right "opportunity" to further economic and cultural ties between the two democratic nations.

Calling his host country a vibrant democracy with a dynamic society that is 20 years younger on average than his home country, German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner said the demographic difference between the two countries "fits perfectly" in their mutual interests.

"You have this incredible asset of this young nation, having these young people. But that is not just an asset but also an enormous responsiblity... Since, it is difficult to get enough of them educated at universities, to get them skilled and trained. And, that is one thing where this next government has to put in a lot of energy," he told PTI.
 

Steiner said this has just "marginally started" but the big national effort will need another gear into the train by the host government and that is where Germany's cooperation potential comes into play.

"We have the need of young bright people to come to Germany, to study there and to get trained in a profession and to work for a while and then go back...It is not a brain drain situation...So, it is in our interest, but it is also in the interest of the concerned person. And, that is also true of universities or institutions of vocational training," he said.

The Munich-born Ambassador said Germany wanted to extend its vocational training system and its "sought-after" experience to India and take it to "another level" and also do it "quantity-wise".

According to 2011 Census, close to half of India's population is under 21.

On economic front and the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Steiner said both democracies have similar roles to play in their respective regions as "stabilising anchors".

"Germany at the centre of Europe has a task to be a stabilising factor, a stabilising anchor in Europe...India has a similar task in its region here, in South Asia and in Asia as a whole...So, we have similar tasks of being anchors of stability, and have a responsibility for the whole region," he said.

As per FTA, "I believe intensification of trade is not so important, as much as mutual investment...Because, if you put in an investment in another place, you really get engaged with the place."

Terming globalisation as a "big global beauty contest", the Ambassador said German companies as Indian investors were only looking for enabling environments, free from the trammels of bureaucracy, and that they (German companies) were "here to stay and not for a quick buck".