Angela Merkel lands in India, with trade high on the agenda

The meeting between Modi and Merkel comes days after they met in New York on September 26 at a high-powered summit of India, Brazil, Germany and Japan (G-4 group), which the Indian prime minister hosted, as all the four countries are bidding for a permanent seat in the United Nation’s restructured Security Council.

“We honour that your Prime Minister has ambitious programmes for the development of your country and for the economic build up and Germany is fully interested to be your partner and supporter”, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters after a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Speaking at a joint press conference, after attending the third Inter-Governmental Consultations at the Hyderabad House at the Indian Capital, the Chancellor said, Germany and India would greatly enhance cooperation in Science, Technology and Vocational fields.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in India on a three-day visit that will focus on trade and investment. PM Modi and Merkel will also have a one-on-one meeting before delegation-level talks. “We have been able to sign so many agreements”.

Germany is India’s largest trading partner in Europe and the second most important partner in terms of technological collaborations. India agreed to fast-track investments by setting up a special facility for German companies with the Indian side promising a “single-point clearance” by March 2016. Besides, the issue of the restrictions placed by the European Union on the sale of about 700 drugs from India, a move which India views as unwarranted, was also discussed, Jaishankar said.

In the meantime, along with this Merkel along with her delegates and Modi will also be visiting Bengaluru.

She said over 1,500 German companies are in India and more would be glad to open up.

Both leaders welcomed the agreement on teaching of the German language as an additional foreign language in Kendriya Vidyalayas in conformity with the National Education Policy of India as well as the facilitation of teaching of modern Indian languages in German educational institutions, the joint statement said.

German investments in India stand at 9.7 billion euros with about 1,600 companies in the country, where the chemistry, energy and pharmaceuticals sectors are of greatest interest. The overall exchange of goods and services between the two countries was valued at around 15.96 billion euros past year. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will meet German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeir and also call on the Chancellor.

This is why one of the pacts recently signed between the two countries involved fast-track business approvals, thus eliminating red-tape and bureaucratic impediments.