India to cut red tape on German biz

India and Germany today focussed on speeding up investments in India while holding discussions on a wide spectrum leading to signing of 18 MoUs.
Co-chairing the 3rd Inter-Governmental Consultations here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to scale up bilateral relations in areas such as defence, security, intelligence, railways, trade and investment and clean energy.
“We see Germany as a natural partner in achieving our vision of India's economic transformation. German strengths and India's priorities are aligned. Our focus tends to be on economic ties. But, I believe that in a world of seamless challenges and opportunities, India and Germany can also be strong partners in advancing a more human, peaceful, just and sustainable future for the world," PM Modi said at a joint media event with Merkel after over three-hour-long talks, both at delegation-level and one-on-one format.
During the leaders’ discussion, the issue of terror, India's immediate neighbourhood, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, figured but New Delhi preferred not to delve into details.
In a joint statement, PM Modi said the partnership would grow in areas like “defence manufacturing, trade in advanced technology, intelligence and countering terrorism and radicalism. These are important security dimensions of our expanding relationship.”
Towards this, both sides decided to have meetings of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. Modi and Merkel shared their concerns about growing threat and global reach of terrorism and extremism.
Rijiju raises presence of Sikh extremists
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju drew the attention of his German counterpart Gunter Krings towards Sikh extremists. "The flag of Khalistan and photographs of terrorists bearing weapons are openly displayed in many Sikh religious places in Germany to incite hatred and anger," the Indian Minister told Krings.