New Delhi : German Chancellor Angela Merkel will take part in the third Inter-Governmental Consultations, IGC, between India and Germany here on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Merkel will hold discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including deepening bilateral engagement in defence, security, education, renewable energy, skill development and agriculture. The German Chancellor will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee and meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today.
Merkel, along with Prime Minister Modi, will visit Bengaluru tomorrow and participate in a business event. Merkel arrived in New Delhi last night on a 2-day visit to India. Welcoming her, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, “Namaste Chancellor Merkel! Warm welcome to you & the delegation. I look forward to fruitful discussions & strengthening India-Germany ties.” India and Germany are strategic partners since 2001. Germany is India’s largest trading partner in the European Union and the seventh largest foreign investor in India.
