PM Modi returns home after three-nation tour

New Delhi, April 18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to the National Capital early this morning after a three- nation tour of France, Germany and Canada during which a number of key agreements were signed, including the supply of 36 Rafale fighter jets by France and uranium from Canada.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay along with party MLAs and other senior leaders were present at the technical Air Force base in Palam to welcome him.

The Prime Minister’s aircraft made a brief stopover in Frankfurt for refuelling before heading for New Delhi from Vancouver.

“A special thanks to @pmharper — a fine host, a wonderful human being and a very dear friend,” Modi had tweeted before his departure from Vancouver yesterday.

“I leave Canada with immense satisfaction. This visit will further enhance India-Canada ties. A big thanks to the people of Canada,” he said in another tweet before heading home.

The thrust of Modi’s trip was on attracting investments and technology for development of India through the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

During his Germany visit, Modi inaugurated the Hannover Fair of which India was a partner country with a theme of ‘Make in India’.

France was the first destination of his nine-day tour.

During his stay in Paris, Modi held talks with President Francois Hollande and met business leaders.

An agreement was signed under which India will buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in flyaway condition from France and a decision was made to move ahead with the stalled Jaitapur nuclear project in Maharashtra.

He then headed to Germany where he held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and announced that a mechanism will be established to facilitate investment and business from Germany as the two countries agreed to broaden bilateral economic cooperation.

Modi’s final destination was Canada where besides meeting business leaders and making stops at Toronto and Vancouver he held talks with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper in Ottawa after which Canada agreed to supply 3,000 metric tonnes of uranium to India from this year under a $254 million five-year deal to power Indian atomic reactors. — PTI