German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Visit India between Oct 31- Nov 02

German Chancellor Angela Markel is expected to visit India from October 31 to November 02, sources reveal. The Chancellor will be coming for the 5th intergovernmental consultations, a conference that happens every two years to discuss the bilateral relations between the two countries. Chancellor Merkel visited India in 2007, 2011 and in October 2015. PM Modi and Angela Merkel last met and held a brief bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York on September 24, 2019

The Fourth intergovernmental consultation

The fourth intergovernmental consultations were held in Berlin where Angela Markel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed ways to strengthen their strategic partnership. German Foreign Minister Gabriel also participated in intergovernmental consultations. In the last conference, special attention was given to cyber policy and both the countries specified measures to be implemented in the spheres of cyber foreign policy, IT security and the fight against cybercrime. Chancellor Angela Merkel had hosted an informal dinner for Prime Minister Modi at the Schloss Meseberg, outside Berlin. The interaction lasted nearly three hours and covered various areas of mutual interest including smart cities, skill development, clean energy etc. There was an appreciation for India's economic reform agenda, including GST

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India and Germany relationship

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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