Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Germany

Hannover, Apr 22: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived here today on the first leg of his five-day tour of Germany and Uzbekistan, during which he will seek to muster the international community's support for the Indo-US civilian nuclear energy cooperation deal.

Dr Singh, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation, was received at the airport by Indian Ambassador to Germany Meera Shankar and senior Indian and German officials.

The delegation included Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan and senior officials.

The ostensible reason for the Prime Minister's visit to Germany is to inaugurate tomorrow 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.

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.

On Monday, the Prime Minister will leave here for the German capital of Berlin to meet President Horst Koehler and other leaders.

He will fly to Uzbekistan on Tuesday, reaching the Central Asian country's capital of Tashkent late in the evening.

Dr Singh will hold talks with Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Wednesday 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.

Uzbekistan has large gas reserves which are unexplored and India has expressed its desire for cooperation in this area.

The discussions will involve India's interest in transit to Central Asia via Afghanistan and Iran. India has been assisting the construction of Zaranj-Delaram Highway in Afghanistan as it could provide New Delhi a transit route to Central Asia.

India is 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 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 IT sector in which Uzbekistan is one of the largest beneficiaries of India's talent.

The Prime Minister will return to New Delhi late at night on April 26.

UNI

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