New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s chat with German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on raising an issue about China blocking the sale of tunnel boring machines to India has gone viral.
The two leaders can be seen in a video, posted on social media platform X, talking about the issue.
“See your German company which is supplying us some tunnel boring machines, which they are making in China…but China is not allowing them to sell it to India…We should stop buying German equipment now,” Goyal told Minister Habeck during a metro ride last week.
During the Delhi metro ride to reach YashoBhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka, Goyal told Hadeck India is buying tunnel boring machines from a German company named Herrenknecht, but that China is now blocking the sale of these machines to India, affecting vital infrastructure projects.
“See your German company Herrenknecht is supplying us some tunnel boring machines which they make in China, but China is not allowing them to sell them to me,” Goyal said, to which Robert Habeck replied saying, “They are producing in China?”
After this Goyal added, “We should stop buying German equipment now.” On this then, Habeck stood up and was seen saying, “I think I should listen to you.”
Earlier in the day during the Asia Pacific conference, Habeck had highlighted India’s crucial role as a partner in navigating these economic shifts. “India is one of the most important partners here in this region, but also in the world. India is one of the most important partners in the region and the world. We cannot…not to have an EU FTA Free Trade Agreement. For this reason, there’s a great deal of willingness for myself,” he said.
During the Asia-Pacific Conference, PM Modi hailed the cooperation between India and Germany.
Speaking on the relationship between the two countries he said, “The approach and commitment to taking this strategic partnership forward in a holistic manner is clearly visible. Germany’s trust in India is amazing.”
