No trust deficit between India, Germany on high technology transfer: Merkel

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday said there was no trust deficit between Germany and India on the issue of high technology transfer.

Responding to a question from this reporter during a joint press interaction with visiting Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, on why Germany puts restrictions on the transfer of high technology to India, Merkel said both sides were working on modalities to ease such restrictions.

Merkel said: “On the transfer of high technology for peaceful purposes, the Indian Prime Minister mentioned the potential for high technology trade between India and Germany. We are cooperating closely on this, and will work towards a smoother cooperation.”

In his speech, Dr. Singh said: “There is vast untapped potential for high technology trade between India and Germany and I conveyed to Chancellor Merkel that relaxation of German export control laws will open new horizons for such trade. This will be to our mutual benefit.”

Merkel also described the bilateral partnership between Germany and India as being of a strategic nature.

“Our partnership with India is of a strategic nature. Our goals are ambitious and there is no trust deficit, on the contrary we are cooperating very well in this area,” said Merkel. (ANI)