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It is the second time Chancellor Angela Merkel will have visited India. Her first visit was in late 2007.

The government consultations are to focus on cooperation in the education sector, economics and technology, and infrastructure and energy policy. The Chancellor will be accompanied by Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Federal Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, Federal Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière, Federal Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer, Federal Education Minister Annette Schavan and representatives of the Ministry of Economics and Technology and the Ministry for the Environment.

Germany in India – the Germany Year

Sixty years after diplomatic relations were established, the two governments aim to examine the areas in which Germany and India can further step up cooperation. Topical regional, global and international issues will, however, also be on the agenda.

During her visit the Chancellor will be awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Prize for her role in promoting international understanding.

In New Delhi Angela Merkel will also be opening the Germany Year 2011-2012 along with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In seven major Indian cities, Germany will be presenting itself as an innovative, creative and sustainable partner for India. The exhibition and presentation can be seen for two weeks in each of the seven cities. The programme will include cultural events, visits and presentations looking at the realms of politics, business, science and research. The overarching theme is “StadtRäume – CitySpaces”.

Business is the crux of cooperation

The key elements of the strategic partnership that links Germany and India are trade and investment. The figures look promising. With a trade volume of 15.4 billion euros, trade is expanding once again after a dip resulting from the global economic and financial crisis. Both imports and exports are rising. The aim is still to expand trade with India to 20 billion euros by 2012.

Transport, logistics, traffic – German businesses have worldwide experience in building transport infrastructure. This is an issue that will be high on the agenda when German and Indian business associations meet parallel to the government consultations. The Chancellor will be taking 19 business representatives with her to India. They represent both large stock-exchange listed companies and privately-owned small and medium-sized businesses.

Another important focus of the consultations is a sustainable, affordable, safe and reliable energy supply. Expanding the use of renewables and boosting energy efficiency are to help slow climate change. The two partners also aim to cooperate particularly closely in the automobile sector.

Vocational training – an investment in the future

Strong population growth and a young population mean that vocational training is crucially important for India. Not only academic studies, but vocational training too is a locomotive of economic development. Germany has a wealth of expertise in this field and can help reform India’s vocational training system. This too will be on the agenda in New Delhi.

From India, Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel on to Singapore on Wednesday.