German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Indian Premier Narendra Modi called for greater bilateral investment and a boost in science and technology cooperation, as the German leader’s visit to India came to an end Tuesday.
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Both the leaders are also likely to exchange views on regional and global issues of common concern such as climate change. Germany committed over one billion euros for India’s Green Energy Corridor and a new assistance package of over a billion euros for solar projects in India. One was a joint declaration of Intent between the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, (MoA&FW), and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) of Germany on Plant Protection Products.
Mr Modi said that to attract more foreign investment the Centrehad liberalized the FDI regime.
India and Germany have a “Strategic Partnership” since 2001 and Germany is India’s largest trading partner in Europe.
Meanwhile, Merkel said that while India needs high-skilled jobs, Germany requires highly-skilled labour. She said the IGC mechanism has underscored the intensity of bilateral ties with India.
She said Germany was ready and willing to show more responsibility for reforming the Security Council.
“A reliable legal and administrative framework is indispensable for German companies in India”, he said in an interview with the Hindustan Times before the talks, while applauding Modi’s government for moving in the right direction. She commended the inking of the fast-track agreement on German companies. “The speed at which you grant licences has increased, which is a good thing”, Merkel said at the briefing.
The earlier IGC was held in 2011, and then again in 2013. India was the partner country at this year’s CEBIT technology trade fair in Hanover.
Both the leaders also discussed ways to move forward the stalled negotiations on the India-EU free trade agreement. “We are confident that this will positively impact the country’s development”, said he.
She also listed various initives by the two countries including in the fields of defence, security, trade and investment and solar energy.
Both sides also issued a joint statement after the talks.
Merkel, accompanied by a large delegation of Cabinet Ministers and top officials, arrived here last night and was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning.
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Merkel is expected to visit the statue, which the Stuttgart Linden museum had bought at auction but made a decision to voluntarily return after it was found to have been looted from Kashmir in the 1990s.
