New Delhi: German chancellor Angela Merkel will arrive in Bengaluru on Monday as part of her three-day visit to India to participate in the third Indo-German Inter-governmental Consultations hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The discussions between the two leaders are expected cover a wide range of issues including security and defence, with special focus on boosting trade ties between India and Germany.
On Tuesday, she will visit German engineering major Robert Bosch's facility in Adugodi that will showcase its key innovative projects and the group's commitment towards skill development in the country.
Modi will accompany the chancellor during the tour following which both leaders will jointly address a Nasscom forum that will have German and Indian representatives. Both leaders are expected to discuss initiatives related to skill development, vocational training and Make in India. They will also participate in a working lunch with business leaders from India and Germany.
India and Germany share a strategic partnership that has its basis in strong business and economic links. Germany is India's most important trading partner within the European Union and the sixth most important trading partner globally.
Since 1990, the Indo-German bilateral trade has risen from 2.7 billion Euros to 16 billion euros in 2014. In the first seven months of this year, the bilateral trade between both the countries rose by 13 % over the previous year.
Exploring synergies between India and Germany in IT and engineering research and development (ER&D), the IT industry body had created The Nasscom Germany Council in India that will identify enablers and address issues imperative for the growth of IT-related collaborations.
The council's objective is to increase the footprint of German companies in the country to leverage India as their preferred destination for R&D activities.
Indian ER&D service players have also identified Germany as a focus country and have built extensive capabilities provide services to German global in house centres in India and to enterprises in Germany.
Merkel arrived in New Delhi on Sunday. This morning, after she received a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtraparti Bhavan, she said Germany "fully intends to support the ambitious program that PM Modi has outlined for the development of this nation."
"We will co-operate on areas such as economy, agriculture, internal security, defence matters and financial relations," she added. PM Modi and Ms Merkel will also have a one-on-one meeting before delegation-level talks today
Yesterday, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the German Chancellor with a message on Twitter.
"Namaste Chancellor Merkel! Warm welcome to you & the delegation. I look forward to fruitful discussions & strengthening India-Germany ties," he posted.
The German Chancellor is expected to convey the concerns of German industries in proceeding with planned investments in India. Both leaders are also likely to exchange views on regional and global issues including climate change.
Merkel and PM Modi will participate in a business event hosted by India's software industry lobby NASSCOM. Merkel will also be accompanied by President Pranab Mukherjee during her visit to the innovation and skilling centres of the German company Bosch in the city.
The talks between the two nations will be aimed at deepening bilateral engagement in education, renewable energy, high technology, skill development, science and technology, railways, water and waste management, urban development and agriculture.
Ahead of Ms Merkel's visit, German Ambassador Martin Ney said the third Inter-Governmental Consultations or IGCs are expected to come out with "path-breaking results" and inking of "substantial" number of agreements between the two countries.
PM Modi had visited Germany in April this year where he inaugurated the Hannover Messe, an industrial fair, jointly with the German Chancellor where India was the partner country.
Germany is India's largest trading partner in the European Union and the seventh largest foreign investor in India. The overall exchange of goods and services between the two countries was valued at around 15.96 billion euros last year.
