By Jack Detsch
Will the Indian prime minister’s “Make in India” message resonate in Europe’s biggest industrial power?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi looked much different than usual when he addressed the Indo-German Business Summit in Hannover, Germany on Monday, his first day on a two-day stopover in the country. Losing his customary vest and shawl, Modi sported a tweed jacket and highfalutin rhetoric that championed India’s progress on regulatory and economic reforms. “We have committed ourselves to creating and improving the business environment,” Modi said. “I can assure you that once you decide to be in India, we’re confident we can make you comfortable.”
It wasn’t just Modi who seemed upbeat about the relationship. More than 400 Indian companies from 14 states showed up in Hannover, hoping to prove their manufacturing chops to the Germans. The prime minister, who made headlines in January by treating U.S. President Barack Obama to a prime seat at the Republic Day parade, a Gujarati feast, and a night of traditional dancing at the Presidential Palace, wasn’t shy about taking his hospitality on the road, either. Joining him at the summit were 45 celebrity chefs, who dished out mango lassis, khandvis, dhoklas, khakras, and other exotic Indian treats to potential investors.
The hope that the trip could help the push for a more robust trade relationship with Europe’s largest economy is not unfounded. Delhi and Berlin enjoy a $17 billion trade relationship. That total should improve after the visit, especially with Modi’s efforts to court German business leaders.
Read the full story at The Diplomat