The Hindu Business Line : India, Germany to co-operate in N-power, space

India and Germany today agreed to co-operate in several areas including that of civilian nuclear power, trade, infrastructure, and energy, and hi-tech sectors such as space. The two countries have also agreed on bilateral co-operation in Defence.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, told newspersons that the two countries will co-operate in nuclear civilian power. He added that India has an impeccable record in ensuring nuclear non-proliferation.

"We assured that the co-operation will not result in unauthorised nuclear proliferation."

Joint Forum

Both sides have also decided to set up an Indo-German Energy Forum, which will include participation from Government and industry in the two countries.

The forum will address strategic energy concerns including promotion of renewable energy and environment-friendly energy, the Prime Minister said, after a round of discussions with the German Federal Chancellor, Ms Angela Merkel.

Both sides will work towards setting up an Indo-German science, research and technology centre at an early date.

The Indian Council for Medical Research and the Helm Holtz Association of German Research Centres are also signing an MoU on research co-operation in the field of bio-medical science.

Ms Merkel said that the two countries could also co-operate in alternate raw materials like coal and gas. To a question about liberalised visa regime, she said that India had not raised the issue but was willing to look into it.

Manufacturing base

Several German companies including BMW, Volkswagen, Carl Zeiss and MWG Biotech have said that they are looking at investing in India for setting up manufacturing units and expanding their presence.

Heads of several German companies including ABB, Voith and Siemens on Sundaymet the Dr Singh, and shared their plans. The companies were from across various sectors such as automobile, pharmaceutical, biotech, business process outsourcing, consulting, consumer goods, engineering and IT.

While Mico-Bosch plans to put in 500 million in manufacturing auto components at Nashik and Bangalore, Siemens has committed 600 million, said the Union Minister of Commerce, Mr Kamal Nath.

Mann, in a joint venture with Force Motors of India, is setting up manufacturing unit for buses and trucks in Pitampura in Madhya Pradesh at an investment of 300 million.

BMW, meanwhile, plans to invest Rs 900 crore in making passenger cars near Chennai, with an initial investment of Rs 200 crore over 18 months. "The BMW officials told us that they got the fastest clearance in India after putting their proposal as compared to all of their previous projects," Mr Kamal Nath said.

Pointing out that German interest in India is towards the manufacturing side, Mr Kamal Nath said 70 per cent of all German investment in India is towards manufacturing. Since Germany has the largest manufacturing base in Europe, it is important for India to focus on that country. "We have asked them to expand their manufacturing base in India for both local and export markets," he said.

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