Both sides agreed to forging deeper engagement in capacity building and focused cooperation between agencies concerned

India and Bahrain have agreed to raise engagement in renewable energy capacity building and focus on cooperation between their governments as well as the private sector, particularly in the field of solar, wind and clean hydrogen.

The first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting in the field of Renewable energy between both sides was held on Thursday in a virtual format.

The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale, while the Bahraini delegation was led by President of Sustainable Energy Authority Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza. Ambassador of India to Bahrain Piyush Srivastava was also present in the meeting.

“Both sides agreed to forging deeper engagement in capacity building and focused cooperation between concerned agencies as well as the private sector of the two countries in this sector, particularly in the field of solar, wind and clean hydrogen,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The two sides underscored the importance of renewable energy to meet climate change goals, and presented the initiatives taken, progress made and future targets set by their respective governments as well as opportunities available in this sector. They agreed on sharing experience, expertise and best practices.

It was agreed to hold the next round of JWG meeting at mutually convenient dates, which will be decided through diplomatic channels.

India and Bahrain signed a memorandum of understanding in July 2018 for promoting bilateral cooperation in renewable energy. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Gulf nation, the two nations also signed an MoU to collaborate through the International Solar Alliance.