Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) German President Horst Koehler arrived here Monday evening on a week-long visit to India that is expected to give a push to bilateral economic ties and a proposed pact on counter-terror cooperation between the two countries.
Accompanied by a high-profile business delegation, Koehler is the first German head of state to visit India since 2003. He will also visit Mumbai and Pune.

The key objective of the visit “is to open up new avenues for Germany and India to work together in developing a 21st-century world policy based on mutual cooperation”, the German embassy said here Monday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold talks with Koehler Tuesday on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues.

The two leaders will discuss a host of global challenges, including international terrorism, the global financial crisis, climate change and poverty reduction.

Koehler is slated to meet President Pratibha Patil, ruling United Progressive Alliance chair Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

India and Germany may also discuss the possibilities of civil nuclear cooperation. Germany supported India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and is keen to offer its expertise in nuclear security if New Delhi requests for it.

Koehler, a former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has a meeting slated with Reserve Bank of India Governor D. Subbarao in Mumbai Friday and will discuss issues relating to the global financial crisis and fiscal regulation.

The German president is to assess the extent to which India can be counted on in the attempt to regulate international financial markets, a statement from his office said in Berlin Monday as he left for New Delhi.

The two countries are planning to sign four agreements, including one on security and counter-terrorism and another on economic and technological cooperation involving half a billion dollars, but the procedures are yet to be completed. The talks will give a political push to the signing of these accords at an appropriate time, sources said.

The security pact envisages laying down a legal basis and framework for the training of Indians by anti-terror specialists in Germany. The home ministry is examining a draft of the pact sent by German officials.

Besides official talks, the 66-year-old Koehler has a packed itinerary in India. It includes a visit to the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, a trip to the Volkswagen plant and energy company Thermax’s premises in Pune, and a meeting with Indian industrialists in Mumbai.

He will also visit the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel and the Jewish centre in Mumbai which were among the key targets of terrorists during the November 26-28, 2008, attacks.

Germany is India’s biggest trade partner in the EU with bilateral trade estimated at over $20 billion.

Koehler heads to South Korea, the current chair of the G20, after wrapping up his visit to India Sunday.