Germany opens Consulate office in Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 21 (UNI) German Minister for Foreign Affairs today opened its Consulate Office here.

Germany, thus became the first country to have its Consulate Office in Bangalore.

The Minister unveiled the ceremonial plaque 'Bundes Republic Deutschland Indian General Consulate' here with German Ambassador Bernd Mutzelburg, Consul General Stefan Graf and an 80 member trade delegation.

Deputy Consul Fridrich Rahn said ''the Consulate will start issuing visas and work permits only a year later. However it will receive applications and process them for issuing visas or work permits from the Consulate in Chennai.'' ''Applications for a Schengen visa can also be submitted to the Consulate here,'' he added.

The Bangalore Consulate would cater to the people in Karnataka and Kerala when fully operational.

Mr Rahn said ''the Chennai Consulate issued about 24,000 German visas to applicants from Karnataka and Kerala in 2007. The number of visas has been going up by 10 percent annually with Karnataka accounting for two-thirds and Kerala one-third.'' UNI MSP RS LS KN2102