Germany keen on more trade

Germany would observe parallel agreements related to the India-US civilian nuclear deal at the International Atomic Energy Association, said Hans-Henning Blomeyer-Bartenstein, director general for Asian and Pacific affairs, federal foreign office, Germany at an interactive session organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

He said Germany, a key member of the 45-member nuclear supply group (NSG), was a keen supporter of non-proliferation and a nuclear energy deal between India and the US was important to Germany.

"We differ on nuclear issue. You are focusing on it, when we are moving out of it," he said. Bartenstein said India should focus on renewable sources for future energy requirements.

With a major German development assistance package waiting to be finalised by the end of this week, he said, energy, environment, science and technology and infrastructure were the areas where many German companies were keen to invest in West Bengal.

Earlier on the day, Bartenstein met West Bengal chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb to discuss areas of collaboration between the state and Germany.

"We value the role India is playing internationally. It figures high in our foreign policy," he said.

Following the four-day visit of German chancellor Angela Merkel last week in India, trade-relations between the two countries would further get boosted, and the future would see more German companies bidding for infrastructure and energy projects in India, he said.

In 2006, the bilateral trade between India and Germany increased by 39 per cent.

Indian exports to Germany increased by 23 per cent and German exports to India grew by 52 per cent.