Trade, Security to Come Up During PM Modi, Angela Merkel Talks

File Photo: PM Narendra Modi with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin

New Delhi:  Trade and security will be among key issues during talks Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on October 5 during which she is expected to convey problems faced by German industries in proceeding with planned investments.

Briefing the reporters on the Chancellor’s visit, German Ambassador Martin Ney said Ms Merkel, who will be arriving on Sunday night, will co-chair with PM Modi the 3rd Inter-Governmental Consultations which were expected to come out with “path-breaking results” and inking of “substantial agreements.” However, he did not divulge details of the pacts.

On her three-day visit during which she will also travel to Bangalore where she along with PM Modi will attend a business forum, Ms Merkel will be accompanied by six cabinet ministers as well as a high-profile business delegation.

Mr Ney said bilateral economic relations were becoming closer and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce was the biggest German bi-national Chamber outside Germany with more than 7,000 German and Indian member companies across many sectors.

However, he also noted that German industries have high expectations and also 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 added.

Asked if the issue of the stalled India-EU Free Trade Agreement will figure during the talks, he said it was high time that parleys on it should resume because it will help to resolve issues on the negotiating table. “The issue would be picked up during the talks,” he added.

India, he felt, should be part of the network of trade agreements between countries globally.

The two sides “will not just talk the talk, but deliver tangible results”, he said, adding,”let it be suffice to say that the outcome will reflect the broad spectrum of deliberations of the consultations. The deliverables will cover the areas of security, economy, development cooperation, climate, clean energy…and food security.”

In addition to government to government or “G2G agreements, German enterprises are expected to conclude momentous deals with Indian business partners, Mr Ney said.

Germany is India’s largest trading partner in the European Union and the seventh largest foreign investor in India.

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

External Affairs Ministry also issued a statement saying the Consultations was “a unique Summit-level dialogue with Cabinet participation of both Governments that helps advance the bilateral partnership across the whole range of priority areas of mutual interest between the two countries”.

PM Modi and Ms Merkel will also exchange views on regional and global issues of common concern, it said.

Chancellor Merkel and PM Modi will visit Bengaluru on 6 October, where both will participate in a business event hosted by NASSCOM and also visit the innovation and skilling centres at the German company M/s Bosch.

After the IGC, the majority of the German ministers will return to Germany, Mr Ney said, adding, however, the Economic Cooperation and Development Minister will spend one more day in India to visit cooperation projects.

During Ms Merkel’s visit, the German Foreign minister will discuss global and regional security issues with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Ms Ney also added that though Germany was already involved in Indian government’s initiative such as “Make in India”, “Skill India” and “Clean India”, there will be more investments in these areas now.