Monday, April 24 2006 14:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hannover (Germany): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel today (Apr 24, 2006) inaugurated the India Pavillion of the Hannover Trade Fair in which India is a partner country.

About 350 Indian Companies are showcasing their products and experise at the famous European fair.

Singh, who is on a three-day visit to Germany is seeking increased investment from this European country in India.

Seeking active involvement of Germany in India's development, Singh had yesterday invited its business and industry to make investments and expand trade opportunitiesbetween the two countries.

"India is now growing at the annual rate of eight per cent and our ambition is to raise the growth rate to 10 per cent," he said at the Hannover Town Hall 'Rathaus' where he signed the 'Golden Book', becoming one of the few world leaders to do so.

The Prime Minister said that for achieving the high growth rate, India needed "active involvement and support" of the German people.

"India seeks new investment, it seeks expanded trade opportunities, it seeks import of German technology," he said.