IANS/New Delhi


Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday the “primary objective” of his visit to France, Germany and Canada from April 10-16 is supporting India’s national economic agenda, especially job creation for the youth.
In a series of tweets, linked to his Facebook post, Modi wrote: “My France, Germany and Canada visit is centred around supporting India’s economic agenda and creating jobs for our youth.”
“Will discuss strengthening India-France economic co-operation and visit some high-tech industrial units outside Paris.
“In Germany, Chancellor Merkel and I will jointly inaugurate Hannover Messe where India is a partner country.
“Looking forward to enhancing ties with Canada and interacting with leaders, captains of industry and diaspora in Canada,” Modi tweeted.
He said through his visit, “I am honouring long standing invitations from three of our most important partners who have strong friendships with India.”
In Paris, Modi said that he would “seek greater French involvement in our Make in India programme, including in the defence manufacturing sector.”
“France is one of our most important strategic partners, which has stood with us at difficult moments. We remember the understanding and support extended by France in 1998 after the Pokhran (nuclear) tests. France was also Atal-ji’s first destination for a bilateral visit thereafter,” he said referring to former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
He said India and France have strong co-operation in the defence sector. “This currently includes construction of six advanced submarines in India with French collaboration.”
The prime minister said France is also India’s most important international partner in the area of space. France and India have also entered into an agreement for civil nuclear energy co-operation. France has been a consistent supporter of India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
He said there are “huge opportunities for collaboration in the manufacturing and infrastructure with France, including in the railways sector.”
Modi said through the Make in India programme, India has the potential to create thousands of highly skilled and well-paid jobs in India.
“I also look forward to discussing ways in which we can deepen our security co-operation include counter-terrorism as well as space, cyber and maritime security.”
He said he would visit some of the highly developed high technology industries outside Paris and as also pay respect at the World War I memorial at Neuve Chapelle, “especially to honour, in the centenary year of the tragic war, the supreme sacrifice of thousands of Indian soldiers, who fought valiantly during World War I.”
In Germany, the second leg of his visit where he will be From April 12-14, Modi said the main focus would be to participate in the Hannover Industrial Trade Fair, which will kick off with an inauguration ceremony on April 12.
“India is the partner country at the Hannover Trade Fair this year. This gives India a special place in the trade fair and a high visibility to our business sector,” he said.
He said both he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel would jointly inaugurate the trade fair.
Modi said India’s participation in the Hannover Trade Fair “will be on an unprecedented scale. We will not only showcase our opportunities and capabilities in the economic sector, we will also use the occasion to project our rich heritage to the world, which, in turn, will also benefit our tourism sector”.
In Canada , Modi said he will be hosted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
“Prime Minister Harper played a key role in transforming India-Canada relations. He had visited India twice, the last visit being in November 2012.
“Soon after Independence, Canada was one of our most important developing partners. Today, it has the potential to re-emerge as one of a key economic partner.
“Canada is also the first country to have completed the requirements of civil nuclear co-operation, having concluded the civil nuclear agreement in 2010 and the administrative arrangement in November 2012.”