Modi, Merkel to open Hanover 2015

The country will have a unique opportunity to present the 'Make in India' initiative and its technological prowess at the world's largest industrial fair Hanover Messe, German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner said here on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will jointly inaugurate on Sunday this year's Hanover fair where India is the partner country.

Modi's entourage to the fair, where India was last partner country in 2006, will comprise five union ministers and three chief ministers, while the Indian business participation at Hanover has 350 companies, Steiner told reporters.

"India is very much present in Germany these days through the lion logo representing 'Make in India' unfurled all over the country, at airports and in public places," the ambassador said.

Hanover Messe, which exists since 1947, normally has around 6,000 exhibitors and about 200,000 visitors over a one-week period, he added.

Sunday will also mark the 145th anniversary of the London-to-Kolkata telegraph line constructed by German major Siemens, whose association with India continues till date.

Germany is the eighth largest foreign direct investor in India. German FDI in India during the period 1991-2014 was valued at $7.57 billion.

Germany is also India's largest trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade amounting to some 16 billion euros in 2014.