Dr. Hars Vardhan, Indian Minister for Science and Technologie visited on September 12th, 2016 the GFZ. The Minister informed himself  on ongoing research activities at GFZ and the cooperation with Indian research institutions and universities. The GFZ cooperates with India in the research areas of gas hydrate, magnetic Earth field and in the frame of the International Continental Drilling Program, ICDP. In accordance with the Helmholtz-Association and its president Prof. Otmar Wiestler, it was agreed to organize in 2017 a scientific workshop, to further enhance the bilateral cooperation.