Key takeaways from Modi's trip to Germany and Canada

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently concluded his three-nation tour of France, Germany and Canada. While an earlier piece covered the highlights of his France trip, this covers the major highlights of his trips to Germany and Canada.

Germany

1. Urban development: A working group on urban development between the two countries will be established. Germany will support the development of urban planning and infrastructure in India in the following areas:

(a) Cooperation in the development of smart cities in India

(b) Setting up peer-to-peer network of municipalities for direct collaboration

(c) Assistance in the area of affordable housing

2. Cleaning Ganga: Following the completion of the Ganga Scoping Mission in October 2014 by Germany, there will be further cooperation on Ganga river rejuvenation strategies, capacity support for urban sanitation, setting up of standards, approaches to industrial pollution and innovative financial models. It needs to be noted that Germany had officially committed three million euros for cleaning River Ganga in January.

3. Education: India and Germany will set up an International Center for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences. They will further strengthen collaboration between universities in India and Germany through the India German strategic partnerships in higher education programme, and enhancing the exchange of scientists between both countries, eg in the framework of India's Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) initiative.

4. Science and technology: The tenure of the binational India German Science & Technology Center in India will be extended. Ministry of Earth Sciences, India and Helmholtz Association, Germany will collaborate in the area of Earth Sciences. Additionally, National Council of Science Museums in India and Leibniz Association, Germany will also collaborate in science cooperation.

5. Development of railways: Germany will provide support for modernization of the railway infrastructure including setting up of semi high-speed and high-speed railways and training and skill development of personnel in the rail sector starting with signalling and telecommunications and a high-speed rail system.

Canada

1. Nuclear energy: A $280 million, five-year deal was signed between the Department of Atomic Energy of the government of India and Cameco of Canada for long-term supply of uranium to India to meet its energy needs. India and Germany will collaborate to leverage their industries' respective strengths in the field of pressurised heavy water reactor technology for mutual benefit, as well as for the benefit of global nuclear energy needs. They also agreed to explore mutually beneficial partnerships in the application of radio isotopes for societal benefits.

2. Skill development: 13 MoUs were signed between the National Skill Development Council of India and 13 Canadian colleges, institutes, and Sector Skills Councils in the fields of agriculture, apparel and textiles, automotive, aviation, construction, green economy, healthcare, hydrocarbons, IT, telecom and electronics, sports sector, and water.

3. Agriculture: A Plant Health Technical Working Group will be setup, as a sub group of the MoU on agriculture cooperation to promote trade in plants, plant products and other regulated articles by facilitating science-based discussions related to sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues.

4. Cyber security: An agreement was signed between the Indian ministry of communications and information technology and the department of public safety and emergency preparedness of Canada on cooperation in the area of cyber security.

5. Health care development: An investment of CAD two point five million dollars will be made by Grand Challenges Canada and the department of biotechnology, ministry of science and technology, towards improving maternal, newborn and child health. Both countries have also agreed to accelerate ongoing efforts towards the elimination of Visceral Leishmaniasis in India by jointly supporting an existing Grand Challenges Canada project. Additionally, the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine of India, and the Stem Cell Network of Canada in stem cell research, will collaborate for research including possible student exchanges.

6. Return of Khajuraho sculpture: Parrot Girl, a 900-year old Khajuraho temple sculpture, was returned to India by Canada, in line with the 1970 UNESCO Convention. The sculpture was seized by Canadian authorities in 2011 after it was found "in possession of a person who did not have proper documents".