Willkommen in Indien!: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives in India, to meet PM Modi today

German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India on Monday for a two-day official visit, his first since assuming office, aimed at further strengthening the India-Germany strategic partnership.

Merz landed in Ahmedabad earlier in the day and was warmly received by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today as India and Germany mark 75 years of diplomatic relations and 25 years of their Strategic Partnership.

Confirming the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said the German Chancellor’s trip, undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, would give fresh momentum to bilateral ties.

“Welcome to India! Willkommen in Indien! Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Ahmedabad on an official visit. India and Germany are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties and 25 years of the Strategic Partnership. Chancellor Merz’s visit and his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will further strengthen the India-Germany partnership,” the MEA said in a post on X.

As part of his itinerary, Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz will visit the Sabarmati Ashram at around 9.30 am, followed by participation in the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront at 10 am. Bilateral engagements will begin at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, from 11.15 am onwards.

During their talks, the two leaders will review progress in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership and explore ways to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility. Discussions will also cover collaboration in defence and security, science and innovation, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.

Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz are also expected to exchange views on key regional and global issues and interact with business and industry leaders from both countries.

On January 13, Chancellor Merz will visit Bosch and the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) before departing for Germany.

The two leaders last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where they agreed to further broaden bilateral cooperation. During that meeting, Prime Minister Modi invited Merz for an official visit to India.

The visit comes ahead of the India-EU Summit scheduled for January 27 and is expected to reinforce the shared vision of India and Germany for a forward-looking and resilient partnership.

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