Modi mania as crowds travel across country to greet popular Indian PM

Thousands of people have made a pilgrimage to hear the man they revere as the Gandhi of their generation, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Modi was welcomed to New South Wales after the G20 by Premier Mike Baird. 

But the real welcome was waiting inside Allphones Arena, from 16,000 members of the Indian community, at at least another 5000 outside.

Mr Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Australia in 28 years. His supporters see him as the "can do" PM, disciplined and inspirational.

"He's got a vision for India - a vision for the world," one said.

Up the road at Kellyville, the Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi inspected the north west rail link. 

An Italian consortium will build the $340 million dollar sky train section, part of one of Sydney's most ambitious construction projects.

"I think in this time of globalisation the relationship between Australia and Italy will be absolutely improved in the next years," Mr Renzi said.

The world's most powerful woman, German chancellor Angela Merkel, toured a technology lab, which was easy work for the former research scientist with a PhD in quantum chemistry.

She then delivered the keynote address at the Lowy Institute.

Chancellor Merkel later laid a wreath at the Anzac memorial. In her speech she acknowledged Germany's dark past.

Her Cold War experience comes from the heart, as she grew up in the former East Germany.