German defence minister to firm up Indo-German defence ties

New Delhi: German defence minister Franz Josef Jung is expected to arrive in India at the end of the month in an effort to enhance bilateral relations and also to finalise details about India's participation as a partner at the ILA Berlin 2008 airshow, Europe's oldest and biggest.

During the weeklong visit, the German defence minister is expected to meet his counterpart AK Antony, and other leaders, and also to finalise the agenda for the first ever India-Germany High Defence Committee (HDC), which is expected to meet soon. Senior ministry officials as well as representatives of German companies will accompany minister Jung.

Jung's meetings with senior defence ministry officials, including its secretary, Shekhar Dutt, will center around preparations for India's participation as a partner at the ILA Berlin airshow in 2008. The invitation to partner at the airshow has been extended by the German and European aerospace industry to Indian companies keeping in mind the country's economic growth and the competency and expertise of its aerospace companies.

Indian Government sources point out that prime minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Germany, followed by one from then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee, marked a change in the bilateral relationship in all sectors, especially defence and science and technology.

The ILA Berlin 2008 show is expected to promote collaboration between Germany's aerospace industry and India, which Germany considers to be the marketplace of the future.