New Delhi, Jan 14: Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during his inaugural official visit to India, emphasized the significance of India as a key partner in trade, technology, and security amidst a fragmented global landscape.
Over two days in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, the visit juxtaposed political symbolism with substantive discussions encompassing defence, green transition, mobility, and the long-awaited India-EU trade deal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Merz in Ahmedabad, where bilateral talks at the Mahatma Mandir focused on economic cooperation, noted as the visit’s core aspect. Merz’s delegation included 23 prominent German CEOs, underscoring the importance of enhancing trade relations, with Germany currently representing a substantial portion of India’s trade with the EU, reaching record levels.
Merz reaffirmed political support for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which he expected to conclude by January’s end. Both nations introduced a Joint Declaration of Intent to bolster economic cooperation, establishing a German-Indian CEO Forum aimed at strengthening investment and supply chains.
Defence cooperation received notable emphasis, where discussions included expanding military engagements, a roadmap for defence-industrial collaboration, and a multi-billion-euro initiative for jointly constructing submarines in India, aligning with India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. The countries additionally exchanged 19 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and made eight major announcements across sectors like clean energy and digital technology to promote sustainable development.
The visit also emphasized people-centric measures, highlighted by Germany’s new policy allowing visa-free transit for Indian passport holders, facilitating easier travel for business. New educational collaborations, skilling initiatives, renewable energy training, sports cooperation, and youth exchanges were presented as vital investments in the future of this partnership.
