Obama to meet Merkel, attend Hannover trade show in April

Honolulu: President Barack Obama will travel to Germany in late April to attend the trade show known as the Hannover Messe and to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel, a top ally, the White House said on Wednesday.

The trade show is a major event in Germany, attracting some 200,000 people every year, the White House said.

"The president’s participation - a first for a sitting U.S. president - presents an unique opportunity to showcase American innovation and ingenuity and to highlight the United States as a prime investment destination," the White House said in a statement.

Obama will also discuss efforts to advance U.S.-European talks on a transatlantic trade pact during his visit.

Obama, who is currently on vacation in Hawaii, is close to Merkel. The planned trip during his last year in office is meant as a gesture of goodwill.