India is likely to sign a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Germany on education, including vocational training, science and technology and clean energy.

The Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is leaving for Berlin on Wednesday to participate in the two-day Second India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations which would provide the basis for strengthening political, economic and social cooperation between the two countries.

In Asia, Germany uses IGC forum with two other countries namely Israel and China, apart from India. However, it uses IGC platform with other European countries.

The negotiations for India-EU FTA, which had run into rough weather, are likely to take place in Brussels by the middle of this month. Certain contentious issues like reduction of customs duty on luxury cars and dairy products, TRIPS and pharmaceuticals have stalled the negotiations.

Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Commerce, Industries and Textile Minister Anand Sharma, Minister for Science and Technology Jaipal Reddy, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, Minister for Human Resource Development Pallam Raju and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon will be accompanying Dr Singh.

India is expected to take up this opportunity to further the G4 agenda for reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). G4, consisting of Germany, Brazil, India and Japan, supports each other’s bids for permanent seats in UNSC. Khurshid is leaving for Berlin a day earlier for a separate bilateral meeting with his counterpart, before the IGC meeting.

India is slated to invite German participation to set up townships along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). So far the DMIC has been a collaborative venture between India and Japan.

Also India is likely to urge for German cooperation in introducing new forms of transport using electrical power transmissions. The India-Germany Joint Working Group on Heavy Industry has been long deliberating on this issue.

Setting up of Green Energy Corridors is on the agenda for discussions. Germany has committed one billion Euro for supporting Green Energy Corridors in India which would transmit power from renewable energy sources through the grid.

India-Germany bilateral trade has almost touched the target of 20 billion Euro. Issues of technology transfers through investments and a Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) will be discussed.

Prime Minister Dr Singh is likely to discuss the situation in the Eurozone with the German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel. Possible situation in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO forces in 2014 will be discussed between the two leaders.

Germany is a part of the ISAF and it has had a contingent in Mazar in the past. As the drawdown continues Germany like other countries would like to ensure that the future of Afghanistan is not marked by uncertainty and instability. So, there would be a good scope for discussion on what needs to be done politically and in the field of economic support to Afghanistan to maintain stability.

The Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh after his arrival in Berlin on the evening of April 10 will be hosted for dinner by the German Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel. He will be accorded a Ceremonial Welcome at the German State Chancellery in the morning of April 11, after which he will jointly chair the Inter Governmental Consultations with the German Chancellor. In the evening the Prime Minister will bring the 'Days of India in Germany” to an end at a cultural event being organised to mark this occasion. India and Germany have been celebrating the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Various events under the Days of India in Germany were held from May 2012 to March 2013, under the four themes: Connecting Minds, Connecting Capabilities, Connecting Ideas and Connecting Cultures.

On April 12, the Indian Prime Minister will call on the President Gauck of Germany .

Relations between India and Germany have traditionally been cordial and close. With the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2000, there has been significant progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation through regular high-level exchanges at the Head of Government level, cooperation in strategic areas, growing economic and commercial ties and increased interaction in the fields of education, science and technology, culture and people-to-people relations. Germany continues to be India's largest trading partner in the Europe. India and Germany also work closely together in the international arena.