Germany for boosting trade with India: Consul General

Panaji, Oct 20 (UNI) Germany is committed to boosting bilateral trade and relations with India in general and Goa in particular, its Consul General in Mumbai Walter Stechel said.

Talking to UNI on the sidelines of an interactive session with the members of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) here yesterday, Mr Stechel said the introduction of Germany-Goa flights of Condor Airlines soon to start from Germany itself was a big step in promoting various facets of tourism in the island state.

As many as 14 per cent of the tourists visiting India were from Germany and more were on way to enjoy multiplicity of locations with different weather conditions with a bonanza of attractions, he said.

''The annual International Tourism Festival in Berlin (ITB) has given further boost to tourism across the world over the years, besides opening up viasts for improving bilateral relations with more potentials of each country identified,'' he said.

Apart from ITB, theme specific events like the International Book Fair at Frankfurt were other attractions to promote relations and trade, he added.

On the otherhand, he said, many German companies, particularly pharmaceuticals, were ''eying'' India, with many industries already set in Goa itself.

Interestingly, even several Indian companies were trying to buy out family-owned companies in Germany to promote business, like the recent entry of Mahindra and Mahindra.

The Mumbai-based Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry had been doing a tremendous work in boosting bilateral trade even as the Consulate was engaged in further catalysing the process.

India's exports to Germany had registered a 30 per cent growth and Germany's exports to India 40 per cent. It is expected to jump further in due course.

The encouraging Intellectual Property Regime (IPR) in India had given encouragement to Germans and other nationals to set up shop in the country, particuarly research stations in places like Mumbai.

Immediately, chances for encouraging outsourcing units India were remote as Germans fear they lose job opportunities.

Earlier, the GCCI authorities including its director general Air Commdr P K Pinto explained to the German dignitory the strengths of investing in Goa.

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