Manmohan Singh to seek German support for trade pact with EU
Wednesday April 10, 2013 11:36:53 AM,
IANS
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New Delhi: Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said he will seek Germany's
support for an early conclusion of a balanced trade and investment
agreement with the European Union (EU) during his three-day visit
to Berlin.
"I will seek Chancellor (Angela) Merkel's support for an early
conclusion of an India-EU broad-based trade and investment
agreement," the prime minister, whose delegation includes five
cabinet ministers, said in a statement, ahead of his departure to
Berlin.
"I will also propose that Europe keeps its doors open to Indian
investors and professionals," he added.
The prime minister is visiting Germany on the invitation of
Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Manmohan Singh said he was hopeful of signing a number of
agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in areas like
infrastructure, manufacturing, science and technology, higher
education, professional training, and clean and renewable energy.
"I intend to seek greater trade and investment ties with Germany
as we continue to take steps to boost domestic investment, attract
foreign investors, and spur the economy back to its long term
growth potential of 8 percent," the prime minister said.
He said Germany plays a key role in the global economy and, in
particular, in stability and growth in the Euro Zone, which has an
important bearing on the Indian economy.
"At a time of persisting global economic weakness and uncertainty,
I look forward to discussing these issues with Chancellor Merkel,"
the prime minister said.
Both sides would also discuss their "shared interests in United
Nations Security Council reforms and a broad range of global
developments, including with respect to Afghanistan, West Asia and
the Asia Pacific region".
India, Germany, Brazil and Japan comprise the G4 nations which
have called for expanding the permanent membership in the United
Nations Security Council.
He said he would call on German President Joachim Gauck and also
participate in the closing ceremony of the 'Days of India in
Germany', which was organized to mark the 60th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Germany.
"India remains committed to a close, cooperative and mutually
beneficial partnership with Germany," the prime minister said.
The prime minister is to co-chair the second round of
India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations. This is his third
bilateral visit to Germany. The consultations were launched in
2011 to discuss all possible areas of cooperation.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Commerce Minister Anand
Sharma, Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah, Human Resource
Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju and Science and Technology
Minister S. Jaipal Reddy are part of the delegation.
The prime minister's engagements include a cultural ceremony to
bring to a close the "Days of India in Germany" that was launched
in May last year to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties
between the two countries.
Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe and bilateral
trade with the country had registered an 18.4 percent increase to
touch 18.37 billion euro in 2011. Germany is also the eighth
largest foreign direct investor in India.
The EU as a bloc of 27 countries, on the other hand, is India's
largest trading partner, with bilateral trade increasing in 2011
by 17.2 percent to reach 79.7 billion euro from 68.02 billion euro
in 2010.
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