Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday stressed on her nation's history of partnering India, and subtly suggested that Berlin will be able to edge out 'competition' with regards to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' initiative.
Her remarks came on the backdrop of Prime Minister Modi's highly successful visit to France.
"We would very much like to partner India to the Hannover Messe fair and I am already very impressed by what I have been able to see and the way India has projected itself during this trade fair. You are a country with a lot of young people and they want to see the country develop in the interest of all. We will continue to grow together with India as a partner, we seek to forge a very close partnership, well aware that there are others in the world who wish to do so as well with your country," Chancellor Merkel said, while inaugurating the India pavilion at the Hannover Messe with Prime Minister Modi.
"However, we have a long-standing experience of good cooperation between India and Germany and India, at the Hannover fair, lends itself to a new chapter in our relationship. Prime Minister, let me assure you that India stands ready to develop this partnership further with the representatives of our business communities... Rest assured, we have every interest in building up this partnership," she added.
Chancellor Merkel had emphasised the warm relations that India and Germany share as trade partners on Sunday too, calling for even closer commercial cooperation between the two countries.
"Trade between Germany and India can still be improved, although Germany is already India's largest European trading partner," she had said.
Prime Minister Modi, currently in Germany for the second leg of his three-nation tour, has vowed to remove unnecessary regulations and procedures to simplify the process of foreign investment in India, as well as to make it easier for other countries to initiate business deals.
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He also attended a round table conference with German CEOs, with Voith CEO Dr.Hubert Lienhard and Bombardier Transportation CEO Lutz Bertling among those present at the meeting.
The Prime Minister arrived in Hannover after concluding his visit of France. He will depart for the final leg of his three-nation, nine-day tour on April 14, flying to Ottawa.