New Delhi:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has left today on a three-day official visit to Germany, 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.
Dr 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 PM is leading a high-level delegation to Berlin that includes five cabinet ministers: Salman Khurshid (external affairs), Anand Sharma (commerce), Farooq Abdullah (renewable energy), MM Pallam Raju (human resource development) and S Jaipal Reddy (science and technology).
Earlier, the PM 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 PM said in his departure statement ahead of the visit.
"I will also propose that Europe keeps its doors open to Indian investors and professionals," he added.