Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that New Delhi wants a mutually beneficial partnership with Berlin for the growth and prosperity of both, adding that India's priorities 'fit well' with Germany's expertise.
"[India and Germany] share a strategic partnership based on our common values. India desires a mutually beneficial partnership for growth and prosperity with Germany. Our priorities fit well with Germany's expertise. India's development needs can become business opportunities for German industry," the Prime Minister wrote in an op-ed for a German newspaper.
"We take satisfaction from the presence of more than 1600 Indo-German collaborations Nonetheless, a great deal of potential remains unrealized. Higher levels of investments are possible and indeed desirable. Germany is globally renowned for its engineering, innovation and skills. The capacities of your Mittelstand and family-owned businesses are well known. I invite them to come to India," he added.
Prime Minister Modi further said that the rapid urbanisation is one of the biggest challenges that India faces, adding that the 'Smart Cities' initiative is essential in that context.
"Growing urbanisation in India is one of our greatest challenges. The population in our cities is projected to double in 10 years. Our focus on development of Smart Cities is aimed at providing the basic necessities of affordable housing, clean water and a safe environment for our people," he wrote.
"As a former chief minister of the State of Gujarat, I recognise that these ambitious objectives can be realized only through cooperation between the federal government and our twenty nine states. We are creating structures to enable them to become partners of our exports and investment strategy. We have also adopted a strategy of cooperative and competitive federalism where states spur each other into greater effort through a healthy competition for economic growth and prosperity," he added.
Stating that international support is essential for India to achieve its objectives, Prime Minister Modi said that Germany role was a vital one.
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"International support and collaboration is equally critical to achieving our objectives. I have therefore sought to build a foreign policy which is an integral part of our national development strategy. My interactions with leaders of USA, Russia, France, Japan and China have all aimed at creating enduring partnerships with shared stakes in global development and well-being. Germany enjoys a special place in this context," he wrote.
Prime Minister Modi, currently in Germany for the second leg of his three-nation tour, inaugurated the Hannover Messe on Sunday and 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.
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 a successful visit to France. He will depart for the final leg of his three-nation, nine-day tour on April 14, flying to Ottawa.