India’s prime minister Narendra Modi, along with German chancellor Angela Merkel, yesterday inaugurated Hannover Messe, the world’s largest trade fair. He also met 14 top German industry leaders including Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO, Daimler AG, and Dr Hubert Lienhard, president and CEO of Voith GmbH. India, which is the partner country for this year’s Hannover Messe, has strong representation in the form of over 15 states, 350 companies and 20 CEOs.

In his opening address at Hannover Messe, Modi focused on the ease of doing business in India and ‘Make in India’ campaign. He said, “My government’s Make in lndia initiative is the centrepiece of our efforts to enhance the share of manufacturing in our economy on a sustainable basis while generating employment for millions of young men and women. This initiative will also create value and jobs for German companies that invest in India. Germany’s core competence in engineering, innovation and skills is well recognized. We invite German companies to join us in creating a world-class manufacturing infrastructure that leverages our advantages – Democracy, Demography and Demand – with German technology and engineering skills.”

“Make in India is not a brand. It is a new national movement. Our scale of transformation is vast; therefore, the opportunities we offer are huge. We are creating a stable economic environment that inspires confidence at home and abroad. We are pursuing strong fiscal discipline to do that. We are removing unnecessary regulations and simplifying our procedures. We are using digital technology to eliminate multiple approvals and endless wait. We will nurture innovation and protect your intellectual property. We will make it easy to do business in India.”

In her foreword to the Hannover Messe, Chancellor Merkel said, “The potential of our economic cooperation has not been exhausted by a long way. The Messe brings together numerous experts and gives them the opportunity to share experiences. It is also an excellent forum for making new contacts and initiating business deals. I therefore expect this year’s Hannover Messe to provide German-Indian business relations with new impetus.”

With a trade volume of 16.1 billion euros (Rs 123,068 crore), Germany is India’s leading trading partner within the EU and one of the top 10 global trading partners. 

Later today, Modi, along with chancellor Merkel, will inaugurate the 'India Pavilion' at Hannover Messe and also address an India-German business summit. They, along with business leaders from both countries, will discuss India’s role in the global economy and perspectives for its future growth path. They will also take a look at further opportunities to intensify the Indo-German partnership. This will be followed by separate seminars on investment opportunities in Maharashtra (with a keynote address by Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra) and Andhra Pradesh. 

The Indian automotive industry is represented at the trade fair by apex industry bodies ACMA and SIAM, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) as also a number of leading suppliers like ARB Bearings, Avtec, Bharat Forge, Delux Bearings, Gajra Gears, NRB Industrial Bearings, Tamboli Castings, and vehicle manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz India and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles.

The prime minister, who is on a nine-day visit of three countries, will leave Germany for Canada tomorrow. He was earlier in France on a three-day visit.

Photographs courtesy: Press Information Bureau