Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a four-nation tour of Germany, Spain, Russia and France from May 29, 2017 with an aim to strengthen relations with these countries and highlight India as a potential investment destination.
PM Modi Visit to Germany
PM Modi participates in Indo-German inter-governmental consultations
- On May 30, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held the fourth India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in Berlin, Germany to set a roadmap for the bilateral strategic ties.
- At the IGC, PM Modi was accompanied by senior ministers, including Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Energy Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar.
- IGC between India and Germany is held every two years. Last IGC was held in New Delhi in October, 2015.
India and Germany Inks 12 Pacts
After delegation level talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Vice Chancellor Angela Merkel on a range of bilateral and global issues, India and Germany inked 12 pacts – three memorandum of understanding (MoUs) and nine joint declaration of intent (JDI):
Three MoUs between India and Germany:
- Agreement between the Ministry of Health and BMG (Federal Ministry of Health) on cooperation in health sector.
- Agreement on collaboration between the Ministry of Skill Development and Germany’s BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) to facilitate training of Indian skill development officers and cluster managers.
- Agreement between the AYUSH and BMG (Federal Ministry of Health) over cooperation in alternative medicine
Nine Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between India and Germany:
- JDI between the Ministry of External Affairs and the German Foreign Office on cooperation on cyber policy.
- JDI between the Ministry of External Affairs and the German Foreign Office on collaboration between Foreign Service institutes of both the country
- JDI between the Ministry of Railways and German Ministry of Transport on cooperation in railway safety
- JDI on cooperation in the field of digitalisation, empowerment and economic impact
between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy - JDI between Ministry of Science and Technology and the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) for the establishment of an Indo-German Centre for Sustainability
- JDI between the Ministry of Finance and BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) on Indo-German Development Cooperation
- JDI between the Department of Heavy Industries and BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) on cooperation in vocational education and skill development for machine tools
- JDI between the Ministry of Urban Development and German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development on cooperation for sustainable urban development
- JDI between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and BMWi (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy) over continuation of cooperation in the field of advanced training of corporate and junior executives from India.
between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs and EnergyPM Modi Visit to Spain
Modi becomes 1st Indian PM to visit Spain in 30 years
As a part of his four-nation tour, PM Modi reached Spain on May 31, 2017. He thereby became 1st Indian PM to visit Spain in nearly 30 years after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Spain in year 1988.
- PM Modi held discussions with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on ways to deepen bilateral engagement, including in the high-tech sector.
- He also called on King Felipe VI of Spain.
- In Spain, PM Modi also had a round-table interaction, called the India-Spain CEOs Forum, with leading Spanish business leaders for inviting investment in India as part of his ‘Make in India’ initiative.
India and Spain Sign Seven Agreements
After wide-ranging talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, India and Spain signed following agreements:
- Pact on transfer of sentenced persons
- Pact on visa waiver for holders of diplomatic passports
- Agreement on cooperation in organ transplantation
- Agreement on cooperation in cyber security
- Agreement on cooperation in renewable energy
- Agreement on cooperation in civil aviation
- Agreement on cooperation between India’s Foreign Service Institute and Diplomatic Academy of Spain.
PM Modi Visit to Russia
PM Modi attends 18th Indo-Russia Annual Summit on June 1, 2017.
On June 1, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended 18th Indo-Russia Annual Summit in St. Petersberg, Russia.
- The summit envisaged closer economic ties between the Indian and Russia.
- PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin interacted with the business leaders and reviewed the decisions taken during the summit in Goa that was held in October 2016.
- PM Modi also addressed the Petersburg International economic Forum. It is to be noted that India was the guest country for this forum.
Modi meets Putin: India, Russia sign pact for 2 nuclear power units in Kudankulam
On June 1, 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the talks, India and Russia signed pact for 2 nuclear power units in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu.
Background Information: Russia had been pushing India to sign the agreement on Kudankulam nuclear reactors for the past eight months. The agreement had missed two deadlines earlier. Russian officials consider the conclusion of the agreement as the biggest accomplishment during the summit.
India, Russia to set up JVs to build aircrafts, automobiles – 5 MoUs signed
In a bid to boost bilateral trade and economic ties, India and Russia have agreed to set up joint ventures for manufacturing aircraft and automobiles.
Following five agreements were signed after 18th Indo-Russia Annual Summit:
- Agreement on intellectual property
- A master framework agreement on building two units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant
- A programme of bilateral cultural exchanges for 2017-2019
- An agreement on a feasibility study for a high- speed link between Nagpur and Secunderabad
- A memorandum on cooperation between joint stock company ALROSA and India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council.
India-Russia mark 70 years of diplomatic ties with St Petersburg Declaration
On June 1, 2017, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the St Petersburg Declaration to mark 70 years of India-Russia diplomatic ties. The declaration envisages an action plan for deepening relations in all areas, including political and economic development of the two countries
St Petersburg Declaration – Key Points:
- India and Russia will strive to advance the comprehensive development of the Indian-Russian relations, which is a priority of the foreign policy of both the States.
- Both the countries will work towards a higher level of military- to- military cooperation by holding regular joint land and sea military exercises and this year both the countries will conduct the first ever Tri-services exercise INDRA-2017.
- India and Russia would strive to build an ‘Energy Bridge’ and expand bilateral relations in all areas of energy cooperation, including nuclear, hydrocarbon, hydel and renewable
energy sources and in improving energy efficiency. - It has been mentioned in the declaration that the growing nuclear power partnership between India and Russia has opened opportunities for developing advanced nuclear manufacturing capabilities in India in line with its ‘Make in India’ initiative and joint projects, which would be launched on exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Arctic shelf of
- Declaration said that connectivity must be strengthened, based on dialogue and consent of all parties concerned with due respect to sovereignty, while reiterating their commitment to build effective infrastructure for the International North South Transport Corridor and implementation of the Green Corridor.
energy sources and in improving energy efficiency.List of MoUs/Agreements signed on the sidelines of the 18th India-Russia Annual Summit (June 02, 2017)
Seven MoUs/Agreements were signed on the sidelines of the 18th India-Russia Annual Summit on June 2, 2017
- Protocol No.2 to the Agreement dated December 5, 2008 between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Russian Federation
- Agreement between Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited and Joint Stock Company “Cascade – Technologies for setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle for railways
- Memorandum of Understanding between SREI Infrastructure Finance Limited and State Corporation ‘Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank)’ on Russian export support and participation in the development of India-Russia capital goods financing/leasing business
- Agreement on Cooperation between ‘JITF Urban Infrastructure Services Limited’ (Republic of India), ‘Jindal Rail Infrastructure Limited’ (Republic of India), Joint Stock Company ‘Russian Export Centre’ (Russian Federation), and Limited Liability Company Management Company ‘RailTransHolding’ (Russian Federation)
- Memorandum of Understanding between National Investment Promotion Agency ‘Invest India’ and the Business Council for Cooperation with India concerning the promotion of investment in India and Russia
- Cooperation Agreement between National Investment Promotion Agency ‘Invest India’ and the Roscongress Foundation
- Memorandum of Understanding between ‘Sun Group Private Limited’ and Joint Stock Company ‘Pribor’
PM Modi Visit to France
India & France decide to cooperate in fight against terrorism, climate change
On June 3, 2017, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, France. After two-hour long talks between the two Prime Ministers, India and France vowed to work together for the successful implementation of the landmark Paris climate agreement and fight the challenge posed by terrorism.
Quick Facts about Countries Visited by PM Narendra Modi:
| Country | Capital | Currency |
| Germany | Berlin | Euro |
| Spain | Madrid | Euro |
| Russia | Moscow | Russia Ruble |
| France | Paris | Euro |
