German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to visit India from January 12-13
New Delhi, January 5
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will pay an official visit to India from January 12 to 13, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Monday.
This will be Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first official visit to India. During the visit, he will travel to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.
Prime Minister Modi will receive Chancellor Friedrich Merz on January 12 in Ahmedabad. The two leaders will review progress across various areas of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which completed 25 years last year.
Discussions will focus on further strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while also advancing collaboration in defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties, the MEA said.
Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Friedrich Merz will also engage with business and industry leaders and exchange views on issues of regional and global importance.
The visit is expected to build on the momentum generated by regular high-level political interactions and provide an opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and Germany to develop a forward-looking partnership for the benefit of both countries and the wider global community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Merz last held discussions on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where the two leaders agreed to further broaden the bilateral strategic partnership.
During that interaction, Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to the German Chancellor for an official visit to New Delhi.
The visit is also taking place in the lead-up to the India-EU Summit scheduled for January 27.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting that he's visiting Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, not just Delhi. Shows a focus on industrial and tech hubs. The defence and security collaboration part is crucial. With global uncertainties, strong ties with a European power like Germany are very welcome.
Good to see the partnership completing 25 years. The emphasis on education and mobility is great. Many Indian students go to Germany. Hope they discuss easier visa processes and more scholarships. Also, collaboration in sustainable development is the need of the hour for our cities.
While high-level visits are good, I hope the discussions are substantive. Sometimes these feel like photo-ops. The real test is whether German companies find it easier to do business here and whether our skilled professionals get fair opportunities there. Fingers crossed for concrete outcomes.
Germany's engineering prowess combined with India's IT and youthful demographic is a winning combination. The timing before the India-EU Summit is strategic. Hope this sets a positive tone for broader trade negotiations with the EU. Jai Hind!
As someone working in the renewable energy sector, I'm particularly keen on the 'green and sustainable development' talks. Germany is a leader in this field. Technology transfer and joint ventures could accelerate India's clean energy transition significantly. A very promising agenda.
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