New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS): India has conveyed its consent to be the 'partner country' at the Hannover Messe Fair in Germany to be held April 12-17 next year, an official statement said here Wednesday.

"By accepting the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel for India to be the partner country at Hannover Messe 2015, the government has sent strong signals to the industry about strengthening global trade and inviting investment into India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be present at the world renowned engineering and technology fair beginning April 12," the statement said.

India had been the partner country at the Hannover Messe in 2006. The Hannover Fair attracts nearly two lakh global leaders in business, technology, industrial scientists and policy makers.

The Department of Commerce has mandated the Engineering Export Promotion Council India as the lead agency supported by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the other agencies for the Indian participation in the fair.

About 300 Indian companies including public sector giants would be participating in the six-day fair, seeking technology collaborations, business tie-ups and showcasing India’s capabilities in global trade.

The government is seeing the participation in the fair as an opportunity to increase its global presence in commodities and services, apart from utilizing the event for attracting investments into India as part of the ‘Make in India’ campaign of the prime minister.

The Department of Commerce is in the process of getting in touch with all key departments in the central government as also leaders of Indian business establishments, seeking their participation and co-operation in making the event a grand success.

With $21 billion bilateral trade, Germany is India's sixth largest trading partner with engagement in the areas of mechanical engineering, automobiles, chemicals, services, nuclear reactors and construction.

Garments and textile products, chemical products, leather and leather goods, iron, steel and metal goods, electronic components, electrical components, pharmaceutical products, and auto components are major items of exports from India to Germany.

The key German exports to India include electrical generation equipment, auto equipment, complete fabrication plants, bearings, gear equipment, measurement and control equipment, primary chemical products, synthetic material, machine tools, aircrafts and iron and steel sheets.