German business eager for India-EU FTA, says German Ambassador to India ahead of Chancellor Merz's official visit
New Delhi, January 9
German businesses are eagerly looking forward to having this Free Trade Agreement, and India is a key partner for Germany, said Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, while speaking toon Friday. This statement precedes the official visit of the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, to India on January 12 and 13.
Ackermann noted that the timing of the Chancellor's visit, occurring two weeks before the EU-India summit, signals German hopes for a successful FTA. "We feel that an FTA is a game-changer in our trade and industrial relations. German business is eagerly looking forward to having this FTA, and the Chancellor will certainly make that point. His (German Chancellor) visit, being two weeks ahead of the EU-India summit, is also a clear signal to the Indian side how much my country is really hoping for a good FTA, and the Chancellor will make that point," he said.
The partnership also extends to higher education and research. Ackermann noted that 60,000 students of Indian origin currently study in Germany. He described German universities as very satisfied with these students, who maintain a reputation for commitment and hard work. The Ambassador noted that this reflects the strong character of the bilateral partnership in education.
Bilateral relations between the two countries currently stand at an all-time high. "India is a key partner for Germany. This strategic partnership has grown over the years. India is also a very important partner in defence," Ackermann said. "Our partnership was never as good as it is now. I am very happy to see how strong the partnership is, how strong the attention in Germany toward India is, and how strong the friendship in India toward Germany is."
He expressed satisfaction with the mutual attention and friendship between the nations, but added that a strong partnership can "always be stronger and better." The upcoming visit aims to lead to a renewed effort to strengthen these ties further.
According to a release by the Ministry of External Affairs, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Mr. Friedrich Merz, will pay an official visit to India on 12-13 January 2026. This will be Chancellor Merz's first official visit to India. On the visit, he will be travelling to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.
The two leaders are expected to take stock of the progress made in diverse aspects of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which completed 25 years last year.
The discussions are also expected to focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while also advancing collaboration in important domains of defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people relations.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So proud to hear about the 60,000 Indian students in Germany! It shows our youth's drive and talent. I hope this FTA also includes easier pathways for skilled professionals. The focus on education and research collaboration is the real foundation for a long-term partnership.
Good step, but we must be cautious. We need to ensure our farmers and small businesses are protected in any trade deal. The agreement should be fair and not just open our markets without getting equal access for our services and IT sector. Jai Kisan.
Visiting Ahmedabad and Bengaluru is a smart move by Chancellor Merz. It shows Germany is looking beyond Delhi/NCR and wants to engage with our industrial and tech hubs directly. Bengaluru's startup ecosystem and Gujarat's manufacturing can offer huge synergies.
The defence partnership angle is crucial. With Germany looking to diversify its supply chains and India aiming for self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), there's a perfect match. Hope to see joint ventures in defence manufacturing soon.
While the optimism is good, let's not forget the EU-India FTA talks have been stuck for over a decade. Germany's push is welcome, but the final agreement needs consensus from all 27 EU members. Hope our negotiators are ready for tough but fair bargaining.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.