PM Modi and Angela Merkel likely to meet in G-20 summit to be held Brisbane

NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi may finally meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Australia on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Brisbane on November 15-16, four months after the two governments had botched up in arranging a meeting between the two due to scheduling issues.

Modi could also meet British PM David Cameron on the sidelines of the summit, according to a government source. The meeting with few other G-20 leaders including US president Barack Obama is also on the cards.

India and Germany had tried for a Modi-Merkel meeting in Berlin when the former was en route to Brazil for the Brics summit in July, without considering that Merkel, a soccer buff, had decided to be present at the FIFA World Cup in Rio.

The two sides were overenthusiastic in trying to arrange a meeting in Berlin between India's new leader and the head of government of Europe's strongest economy, without considering the schedule, officials admitted. Modi had congratulated Merkel for her country's victory on his way back from Brazil and extended birthday wishes to her during his stopover in Germany.

Officials pointed out that Germany could play a vital role in building manufacturing sector in India, thereby contributing to Modi's Make in India campaign. The two leaders are expected to discuss expansion of German investments in India, sources said. The PM could visit Germany during the first few months of the next year. Modi is also expected to visit UK in the first quarter of the next year.

Modi leaves for Australia on November 14 from Myanmar, after attending the India-East Asia Summit and India-ASEAN summit. His visit will be the first by an Indian PM to Australia since 1986.

From Brisbane, Modi will then proceed to Sydney, where the Indian-Australian community is planning a Madison Square garden-like event. Over 20,000 people have already registered for the event. He is also likely to address joint session of the Australian parliament.