New Delhi: Germany is keen to cooperate with India in thefield of renewable energy and energy efficiency products, besides thepossibility of a bilateral agreement on intellectual property rights (IPRs).

German Minister for Education and Research Annette Schavan, along with a15-member delegation, met Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath today  (Feb 7, 2007)and discussed the need forcooperation in science and technology, manufacturing and energy sector, anofficial statement said here.

The ministers also took up the issue of cooperation in the area of IPRs,including the possibility of a bilateral agreement on them.

Inviting German investment in the pharmaceutical and engineering sectors, Nathstressed on the need for interaction between Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) from both the countries.

India's exports to Germany in2005-06 stood at 3.52 billion dollars, while imports were 5.82 billion dollars.

Major items of export include RMG cotton, machinery, instruments, drugs andpharmaceuticals, while machinery, electronic goods and transport equipmentconstitute the imports from Germany.