Modi, Merkel meet to give fillip to bilateral ties

India and Germany would seek to give a fillip to their close ties when German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet here on Monday, their second bilateral meeting after six months, during which trade, security and the India-EU trade agreement are expected to figure.

Merkel, who arrives here on Sunday night, is on the India visit from October 4-6. She will be accompanied by a large delegation comprising six cabinet ministers and businesspersons, and will also be visiting Bangaluru.

The German leader, who met Modi at Hannover Messe, is coming here for the 3rd Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) between both countries.

Earlier, German Ambassador Martin Ney said the Inter-Governmental Consultations are expected to lead to the inking of "substantial agreements".

Ney said the German side would seek resolution of certain issues like "questions of corruption, questions of framework for investments, safety of taxation, Intellectual Property Rights" and legal redressal for "ease of doing business". 

"...Industries say we need greater progress in order to implement these planned investments. The two leaders will address these issues definitely in a friendly manner," the German envoy said two days ago.

The two leaders are also expected to take up the India-European Union free trade agreement (FTA), which has been under negotiations for years.

The IGC is a unique summit-level dialogue with cabinet participation of both governments to help advance the bilateral partnership across priority areas of mutual interest. 

The 3rd IGC will seek to build on Modi's visit to Germany in April 2015 to participate in the Hannover Messe where India was the partner country, said an official statement.

On Monday, she will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan, followed by a visit to Rajghat and official meetings between the two leaders and Inter-Governmental Consultations between the two delegations. 

Merkel will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee. 

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will meet her German counterpart Frank Walter Steinmeir and also call on the chancellor.

Modi and Merkel will hold talks on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including deepening bilateral engagement in defence, security, education, renewable energy, high technology manufacturing, skill development, science and technology, railways, water and waste management, urban development and agriculture. 

They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of common concern.

The two leaders will visit Bengaluru on October 6, where both will participate in a business event hosted by NASSCOM on Industry 4.0 and also visit the innovation and skilling centres at the German company M/s Bosch.

India and Germany are strategic partners since 2001. Germany is India's largest trading partner in the European Union and the seventh largest foreign investor in India.

Germany's competencies in manufacturing, high technology, clean energy, water and waste management etc provide a robust foundation for enhanced partnerships in a range of priority areas.

This visit would be an opportunity to consolidate stronger strategic, political and economic partnership between India and Germany, said the official statement.