With a view to deepen relations between India and the city of Berlin, the Governing Mayor of Berlin Mr. Klaus Wowereit will visit India from March 24-28, 2012. He will be travelling to Delhi and Mumbai.
During his visit, Mr. Wowereit will hold talks with the Chief Minister of Delhi Mrs. Sheila Dikshit, Lt. Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Mr. Tejendra Khanna and the Minister for Urban Development Mr. Kamal Nath.
With this visit, Mr. Wowereit aims to explore new avenues of cooperation in the fields of economy, culture and tourism.
Mr. Wowereit is also accompanied by a high-profile business delegation from different infrastructure-related industries. The business delegation, led by the President of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry Berlin Eric Schweitzer, aims to make new contacts in India, thus initiating a constructive dialogue on infrastructure issues.
In both cities—Delhi and Mumbai, Mr. Wowereit will open conferences on Infrastructure, which will host various panel discussions on subjects relating to infrastructure and urban spaces.
Buddy Bears in India
Under the aegis of the year of Germany in India, titled ‘Germany and India: Infinite Opportunities 2011-2012’, Mr. Wowereit will inaugurate the exhibition of the United Buddy Bears at the Central Park in Connaught Place on 27 March at 10 am.
The United Buddy Bears exhibition will be on display from 27 March to 11 May 2012.
Following the motto “We have to get to know each other better…it makes us understand one another better, trust each other more, and live together more peacefully”, the 2m tall Buddy Bears promote tolerance and mutual understanding among different nations, cultures and religions.
The Buddy Bear is unique in its shape, and above all, in its symbolism. After its initial presentation in Berlin, the sculpture has become the city’s unofficial symbol. 143 Buddy Bears, representing a number of United Nations recognised countries, stand together “hand in hand”, symbolising the future-oriented vision of a peaceful world. The Buddy Bears have been referred to as “the best ambassadors for Berlin and a cosmopolitan Germany”.
The bear has been Berlin’s emblem for centuries and the Buddy Bear was envisaged to capture the hearts of Berliners and their guests in various different designs.
Since 2002, the “United Buddy Bears” have visited 23 metropolises, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, Istanbul, Sydney, Cairo, Jerusalem, Buenos Aires and Kuala Lumpur.
Focus on infrastructure and urban spaces
“Germany and India 2011 – 2012: Infinite Opportunities” is a celebratory programme to mark 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries. It is focused on fields in urban development such as mobility, architecture, energy planning, urban art and cultural infrastructure. The highlight of the year of Germany in India is the “Mobile Space” – a set of modern multi-purpose pavilions, designed by German artist Markus Heinsdorff, which will be set up at the heart of five cities across India – Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Pune.
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