German Chancellor Angela Merkel (right) welcomes Prime Minister Manmohan Singh upon his arrival for a dinner at the Chancellery in Berlin, yesterday.
Berlin: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes five cabinet ministers, arrived here yesterday on a three-day official visit during which bilateral trade and investment and cooperation in education, science and technology, and renewable energy would fugure high on the agenda at the inter-governmental talks that kick off today.
“I intend to seek greater trade and investment ties with Germany as we continue to take steps to boost domestic investments, attract foreign investors and spur the economy back to its long term growth potential of 8 percent,” said the prime minister.
“Germany is also a key partner for us in areas like infrastructure, manufacturing, science and technology, higher education, vocational training and clean and renewable energy. We expect to sign a number of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding in these areas,” he said in a statement just before leaving
New Delhi.
India was one of the first countries to recognise the Federal Republic of Germany and had strongly supported German Reunification in 1990. Both countries agree on several policy areas of international diplomacy.
The two nations are also seeking a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council and cooperating with each other in the G-20 process.
The prime minister will co-chair the second round of inter-governmental consultations with Chancellor Angela Merkel and witness the signing of a series of accords aimed at driving bilateral cooperation in the fileds of education, science and technology, and renewable energy.
Under the agreements to be inked, Germany will provide India a soft loan of ¤1bn for strengthening the transmission system of renewable energy in several states.
IANS
