Narendra Modi may visit Germany en route to Brazil

New Delhi, 3 July, 2014

According to reports from Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to make a stopover at Germany on his way to Brazil for a BRICS summit meeting and may meet Chancellor Angela Merkel. The German government’s invitation came after Merkel learnt of Modi’s plan for an overnight halt at Germany. Modi is expected to leave India on July 11, a day after his government presents its maiden budget. With annual bilateral trade in excess of 18 billion euros ( Rs. 1,46,700 crore), Germany is India’s biggest trading partner in Europe. To meet Modi, who will be in Germany from July 12, Merkel has virtually forgone a chance to see her country, if it qualifies, play for football’s biggest prize — the World Cup on July 13 (early July 14 India time). Germany take on France on July 4 in the first quarter final. After two days in Germany, Modi leaves for Brazil on July 14 where his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping will be held. Modi will also meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. The heads of five big emerging world economies -Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, together known as Brics – will meet in the eastern Brazilian port city of Fortaleza.