Manmohan Singh leaves for Germany on 3-day visit

, April 10: Prime Minister

left Wednesday on a three-day official

to Berlin, where he will co-chair inter-governmental consultations and witness the signing of a series of agreements on education, science and technology and renewable energy.

Manmohan Singh, who is visiting Germany at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel, will co-chair with her the second meeting of inter-governmental consultations launched in 2011 to discuss all possible areas of cooperation.

The prime minister is leading a high-level delegation that include five cabinet ministers: Salman Khurshid (external affairs), Anand Sharma (commerce), Farooq Abdullah (renewable energy), M M Pallam Raju (human resource development) and S Jaipal Reddy (science and technology).

Earlier, the prime minister said he will seek German support for early conclusion of a balanced trade and investment with the European Union (EU).

"I will seek Chancellor Merkel's support for an early conclusion of an India-EU broad-based trade and investment agreement," the prime minister said in his departure statement here ahead of the three-day visit to Berlin.

"I will also propose that Europe keeps its doors open to Indian investors and professionals," he added.

IANS