BANGALORE: The German Ambassador to India Bernd Muetzelburg on Tuesday said Germany would upgrade its trade office in Bangalore to a Regional Consulate following increased trade and industrial links with the State.

Mr. Muetzelburg told presspersons said that the upgradation would be effected "very soon," may be in a couple of months. After that people from the region could apply for visas in Bangalore itself with the new office, he said.

Mr. Muetzelburg was participating in a press conference organised by Berlin Tourism Marketing and Berlin International Airports, which launched a publicity campaign in India to woo Indian tourists and to attract direct flights to Berlin. The Ambassador said his Government took the decision to upgrade the trade office as India had emerged as a major economic force over the years with Bangalore becoming the most happening city. More than 120 German companies had set up trade operations in Bangalore, he said.

The move, Mr. Muetzelburg said, would strengthen the bond between the two countries. It was time to take the relations further as many Indians had opted Germany as a better destination and establish trade links.

Mr. Muetzelburg said Germany was celebrating the 16th anniversary of unification of Berlin, which had been the capital city and cultural metropolis. He said Berlin had been the third best-opted city for tourists across the world, after Paris and London. Berlin Tourism Marketing President and Chief Executive Officer Hanns P. Nerger said they were organising a show to motivate Indian tour operators to promote package tours to the German capital. He said the German National Tourist Office believed that India was an important market for incoming tourists. It would have a comprehensive tie-up with Indian authorities concerned to attract more tourists in 2007.

Direct flights

Burkhard Kieker, Vice-President (Marketing), Berlin International Airports; said the publicity campaign was aimed at attracting direct flights from India to Berlin. "As of now, there was no direct flight from India and we are discussing with Indian carriers to operate direct flights to Berlin."

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