Indo-German ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday sought to give a new direction to bilateral ties by strengthening economic and business links as Indian and German companies signed five agreements and automotive giant Bosch announced Rs.650 crore investments in India.

Modi exhorted German industry to invest and ‘Make in India’ for a growing domestic market and huge export markets the world over, while Merkel exuded great confidence that ties would see a quantum leap.  Flagging the opportunities, ranging from building 50 million houses to setting up 100 smart cities, Modi said German investors and companies could also explore modernisation of the vast state-run railway network and stations to setting up of new railway corridors. “Generation of 175 gw (giga watt) of renewable energy to construction of transmission and distribution networks, national highways, bridges, and metro rails are among the investment opportunities beckoning the robust German industry,” he said.