Poll adds to signs migrant flow hurting Merkel’s popularity

Increased numbers of refugees are giving Germans second thoughts about their support for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s welcoming policies, with more than half now saying they are concerned about the new arrivals in the latest polling.

The earlier two IGCs were held in 2011 and 2013. German experts should look at Indian cities that have been identified under the Smart Cities initiative. There is undoubtedly room for expansion. “But industry expects more to ease up climate for business,” he said.

Merkel will experience first hand Industry 4.0/IoT in the making in Bengaluru. Germany was the biggest vehicle exporter to India from within the EU. I have talked this with Ms. Merkel in New York. This is not entirely for the good, since India and Germany have much to celebrate in their past.

Giving details of the visit, German ambassador Martin Ney, while reminding that there were already 1,700 German companies doing business in India, said many more were interested in investing in the country. More so, as emerging economies like China and Brazil are showing signs of an economic slowdown and Russian Federation is reeling under Western sanctions.

By holding hands with India at the United Nations, Germany is also signalling its readiness to deal with India as an equal.

India’s Representative at Germany’s DZ Bank, which is active in institutional investment, Mr. Anupam Chaturvedi, sees the reason in global financial crises.

But despite their remarkable effort, other migrants too said they were frustrated.

Ney expressed “optimism” that India and the European Union will resume talks on a Free Trade Agreement. This is supposed to give security to investors.

The several concerns of German companies about investing in India for now still remain. It turned out to be a kind of barrier for the investment. India and the European Union have been in negotiations over a market-opening pact since June 2007.

“When the PM made the commitment to Chancellor Merkel, I thought it would be a hard promise to keep, but I had never imagined we would not even get to the talking table”.

Prime Minister Modi would probably know that Swami Vivekananda met Max Müller in May 1896. German expertise can contribute to the modernisation of the apprenticeship system and curricula, and in supporting small and medium enterprises to participate in the development of VET. It may be worthwhile to mention that the Ficci Skill Development Forum (SDF), as part of its worldwide collaboration strand, is steering the Indo-German partnership on skills.

After his commitment to Merkel, Modi had asked French President Francois Hollande and recently Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny for help.

India and Germany will hold discussions on a range of issues including security, economy and clean energy during Chancellor Angela Merkel’s October 4-6 visit to the country, and “substantial agreements” and “path-breaking results” are expected during the talks.