PM leaves for Germany, Uzbekistan tomorrow

New Delhi, Apr 21: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaves here tomorrow on a five-day visit to Germany and Uzbekistan during which he will seek the international community's support for the Indo-US civil nuclear energy deal besides discussing ways for enhancing cooperation in economic, energy and other fields with the two countries.

The main reason for the Prime Minister's visit to Germany is to inaugurate the famous Hannover Trade Fair along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. India is the partner country in the fair this time, after 22 years. Over 300 Indian companies will be participating in the fair to showcase Indian expertise in the industrial sector. India will also participate in the World Energy Dialogue.

External Affairs Ministry officials say the Prime Minister will hold extensive talks with the German Chancellor on a wide range of bilateral issues as well as the international situation.

He will utilise the opportunity to address Germany's concerns over the Indo-US nuclear deal, clinched in March. Germany is a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), whose ratification of the accord is necessary for the deal to come into force.

Stating that the German government or the country's political parties had not formally conveyed any reservations to India with regard to the deal, Mrs Tripathi also took note of the German Ambassador to India's comments in an English daily on the deal, saying they were 'encouraging'.

Mrs Tripathi said "Our position is very well known on these issues and we will once again clarify to them." During the visit, India and Germany will set up a bilateral Energy Forum. It will be co-chaired by the Power Secretary on the Indian side.

The two countries will also sign three MoUs in the fields of railways, medical research and standards.

During the tour of Germany from April 23-25, the Prime Minister, who will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, will visit Hannover and Berlin.

Dr Singh will be the first head of government of an Asian country to visit Germany after Chancellor Merkel assumed charge of her office last year.

The two countries had in 2004 set a target of doubling their bilateral trade from five billion Euros by 2010.

Mrs Tripathi said the target could be achieved by as early as 2008 as bilateral trade had already touched 7.6 billion Euros

On the second leg of the tour, the Prime Minister will travel to Uzbekistan and energy and economic cooperation will be high on the agenda during the visit. In the Central Asian country, Dr Singh will hold talks with President Islam Karimov on enhancing cooperation in various fields, particularly energy.

Some agreements in the energy sector are expected, besides pacts in education and research after the talks on April 26, according to Mr Rajiv Sikri, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry.

Mr Sikri said Uzbekistan had large gas reserves which were unexplored and India would be interested in cooperation in this area.

The discussions would involve India's interest in transit to Central Asia via Afghanistan and Iran. India was assisting the construction of Zaranj-Delaram Highway in Afghanistan as it could provide this country a transit route to Central Asia.

India was also interested in participating in the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan gas pipeline.

In Uzbekistan, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate an IT Centre named after first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

During the visit, Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is expected to sign an agreement with its counterpart. Delhi University will also sign an agreement with Tashkent State University.

India and Uzbekistan have a joint working group on terrorism which had met last year. Both sides are opposed to fundamentalism.

The two sides are also expected to discuss cooperation in the IT sector in which Uzbekistan is one of the largest beneficiaries of India's talent.

UNI