Ties with Germany can benefit state

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A number of areas, including renewable energy, infrastructure development and health care, offer ample opportunity for collaboration between Kerala and Germany, Dr Ingo Karsten, Consul General of Germany, Bangalore, said on Tuesday. On his first visit to Kerala after assuming charge as CG at the new Bangalore consulate, Karsten listed high-end infrastructure projects like Kochi Metro, Vizhinjam Port and the proposed Kannur International Airport where German companies can offer their experience and expertise. On Monday, Karsten met Governor M O H Farook and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and on Tuesday, held talks with Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran. ‘’India and Germany had held intensive talks in May this year on enlarging cooperation in the areas of science, especially biotechnology,’’ Karsten, who also visited the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for BIotechnology (RGCB), said. Potential link-ups between RGCB and like-minded German institutes will be explored, he said. Renewable energy is one area where Germany has much to offer, according to him. The European giant was shutting down its nuclear power stations and hoped to replace them with renewable energy initiatives in the years ahead. While land was the big question in Kerala, offshore renewable energy initiatives such as offshore wind farms had a potential which could be explored.  Health care also offered areas where Germany and Kerala opportunities for tie-ups, he said. Germany was interested in research into viral and cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes and GM food. Karsten expressed wonder at the interest shown by Keralites in German language and Germany. ‘’The Goethe-Zentrum was opened here three years ago with 12 students. Now it has over 600 students. I was astonished to see the overwhelming demand for German language in Kerala,’’ he said. Germany has also eased the Visa regime, he said. The new Consulate catered to Kerala and Karnataka and since its opening on September 15, over 1,000 visa applications were filed, of which 98 per cent were admitted. ‘’We established this Consulate to facilitate Visa procedures and cultural exchange,’’ said Karsten, adding that Germany was encouraging the influx of skilled professionals from India.