Angela Merkel: Talks with India to focus on the trade relations

Ahead of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s official visit to India, the German Chancellor on Saturday expressed happiness over her scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the upcoming fifth biennial Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) in New Delhi. Angela Merkel stated that the focus of the talks between the two countries would be on economic trade relations, climate protection, and sustainable development, amongst other areas.

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Germany and India to hold talks of foreign and security policy issues

As per the German Chancellor’s statement, the talks between the two countries would also be on foreign and security policy issues, as well as how the two countries could work together towards climate protection and sustainable development. 

'It is my fourth visit to India'

The German Chancellor in a statement said, "it is my fourth visit to India and I am happy to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to discuss with him about our bilateral relations. IGCs give us the opportunity to talk about the whole breadth of the future of our relationship. This time, the focus will be economic and trade relations, innovation and digitalisation, and climate protection and sustainable development.”The statement further read, "additionally, we will talk about how we can work towards climate protection and sustainable development in our relationship. We will also discuss foreign and security policy issues -- that means that our discussion will cover a large spectrum.” The discussions will also touch upon renewable energy, smart cities, and new forms of mobility, Merkel added.

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'Developmental dynamic of India'

Angela Merkel further said that she is impressed by the "developmental dynamic of India" and how the country has rapidly developed over the past few years. "All of us know that India has great potential. Therefore it is important that we, as Germans, the largest trade partner of India in the EU (European Union), work further for the strengthening of our relationship and learn from India and also are able to use our technological development in India." "That would be a win-win situation for both countries," Merkel concluded.

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'Strategic Partnership' since 2001

India and Germany have had a 'Strategic Partnership' since 2001, which has been further strengthened with the Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) at the level of Head of Governments which allows for a comprehensive review of cooperation and identification of fresh areas of engagement. India is amongst a select group of countries with which Germany has such a dialogue-oriented mechanism. Germany is India's largest trade partner in the 28-member European Union bloc.
In 2016-17, the bilateral trade turnover between the two countries was USD 18.76 billion, with India exporting goods worth USD 7.18 billion to Germany and importing German products worth USD 11.58 billion, according to German media.

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(INPUTS FROM ANI)