Manmohan Singh leaves on Germany-Uzebek tour

New Delhi, Apr 22: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left this morning for Germany on a five-day visit that will also take him to Uzbekistan saying it would provide an opportunity to further strengthen India's partnership with the two countries.

Dr Singh, who will be inaugurating the India Pavilion at the Hanover Fair, said the fair would showcase the vast potential for partnership that India offers for trade, industry and technological cooperation.

The visit to Germany is at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel to participate in the annual summit meetings between the two countries as part of the strategic partnership.

Dr Singh will also call on German President Horst Kohler.

''My visit to Germany will provide an opportunity to further strengthen relations with one of the major European powers and a valuable partner on global issues,'' the Prime Minister said in a departure statement.

He said Germany was one of the world's foremost trading nations and one of India's most important business partners and among the major foreign investors in India.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and several other cabinet ministers were present at the 7 Race Course residence of Dr Singh to see him off.

India is the partner country at the prestigious this year's Hanover Fair, the world's largest technology exhibition. The last time India was a partner country at this fair was 22 years ago. Over 300 Indian companies, including public sector undertakings, corporate houses and small businesses as well as chambers of commerce and industry have put up stalls at the fair.

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.

After his three-day visit to Germany, Dr Singh will travel to the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan. The visit, coming at the invitation of President Islam Karimov, is expected to build on the traditional ties by providing new meaning and substance in political, economic, defence, energy, science and technology and cultural fields, Dr Singh said.

According to the Prime Minister, both India and Uzbekistan share longstanding ties and deep-rooted cultural and civilizational links.

''Uzbekistan is an important country in the Central Asian region which we consider part of our extended neighbourhood,'' he said.

UNI