German trade office to become Consulate General office

Bangalore, Oct 10 (UNI) With increase in trade and industrial link with Karnataka, the German Government has decided to upgrade its trade office in the State to a Consulate General German Ambassador to India Bernd Mutzelburg announced today.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said that over the years, India was emerging as a major economic force in the world, with Bangalore becoming the most happening city in the country. Over 120 to 150 German companies have set up trade operations in the city.

The envoy said the move would help the two nations to bond further. Lot of Indians have opted Germany as a better destination to work and establish trade links and it was high time to take it to newer heights, he added.

Mr Mutzelburg said the country was celebrating its 16th year of unification and Berlin, the capital city and cultural metropolis, was the third best opted city for tourists across the world, after Paris and London.

Berlin Tourism Marketing President and CEO Hanns P Nerger, who also spoke, said a road show was being held to motivate Indian tour operators to promote package tours to the German capital. The German National Tourist Office was convinced that India was one of the important future markets vis-a-vis incoming tourists.

He said a new international airport was being constructed in Berlin at a cost of over 3.5 billion Euros to receive over 90 million passengers annually. The proposed airport was expected to become operational within four years and it would be the largest low cost modern airport in Europe.

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