There has been a surge in the number of visitors to Germany from Kolkata, Mr Guido Meyer, consular attaché at the German Consulate in Kolkata, informed the students of Statesman Print Journalism School (SPJS) during their visit to the Consulate here on Friday. From 2017 to 2019, the number of both short- and long-term visas granted to applicants from Kolkata has jumped by 60 per cent from 5,800 to 9,225.

The applicants mostly are professionals from the Information and Technology (IT), business and commerce sectors, academics and tourists. Applications to various universities in Germany have spiked by 15 per cent, an encouraging indication, although disciplines like medicine, sociology and philosophy are as accomplished as the more popular science, technology and engineering departments, Mr Meyer said.

Dr Michael Feiner, Consul- General of the Federal Republic of Germany, spoke to the students of SPJS during the Consulate visit and said that Germany has been a member of the Security Council of the United Nations for the last two years and in April 2019, Germany became president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the first time since 2012. Germany has also sought permanent membership of the UNSC, he said.

Germany has been elected to the Human Rights Council of the UN and will remain a member from 2020 to 2022. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced an increase in international funding from 2 billion to 4 billion euros to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019, he said.

Dr Feiner also explained the myriad responsibilities of the German Embassy in Delhi and its Consulates around the country. While bilateral talks and negotiations on foreign affairs, economy and trade are supervised by the Embassy, the Consulates deal in enhancing socio-cultural ties between the two countries.

The Consulate in Kolkata has responsibility for Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and the Northeastern states. The Consulate also retains a Cultural Reservation Fund intended towards the preservation of cultural heritage which include libraries, musical instruments and, through a series of projects, has recently bolstered the shola crafts sector.

It is partnering with schools and other educational centres through Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan to encourage young people to learn German. Germany has also extended support to India’s Smart City Mission, especially in Coimbatore, Bhubaneshwar and Kochi.