German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives in Ahmedabad, on his first official visit to India
PM Modi will meet Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad today. This will be Mr. Merz’s first official visit to India
Federal Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, arrived at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport early on Wednesday (January 12, 2026) morning. He is on an official visit to India from January 12-13 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
PM Modi will meet Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad today. This will be Mr. Merz’s first official visit to India.
At around 9:30 am, on January 12, the two leaders will visit the Sabarmati Ashram and at around 10 am, they will participate in the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront. This will be followed by bilateral engagements from 11:15 a.m. onwards at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
The two leaders will review progress on the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, which recently marked its 25th anniversary. Their discussion will also focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while advancing collaboration in key areas of defense and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people relationships.
Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives in Ahmedabad, on his first official visit to India will also exchange views on issues of regional and global significance and engage with business and industry leaders of the two countries.
The visit is expected to build on momentum from regular high-level political interactions and provide an opportunity to reaffirm India and Germany’s shared vision to develop a forward-looking partnership for the benefit of both countries and the broader global community.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Merz last held discussions on the sides of the G7 Summit in Canada, where the two leaders agreed to further expand 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 planned for January 27.
The visit is significant as German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann on Saturday (January 10, 2026) spoke about cooperation between India and Germany in defense and security areas, stating that the strategic partnership between the nations has grown over the years.
India and Germany are set to seal a slew of pacts on semiconductors, critical minerals, a defense and security roadmap, and skill development as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad Monday, The Indian Express has learned.
This is Chancellor Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives in Ahmedabad, on his first official visit to India will also exchange views on issues of regional and global significance and engage with business and industry leaders of the two countries.
first bilateral visit to India since assuming office last May. He is accompanied by a 25-member delegation of CEOs, including the top executives of a leading submarine manufacturer, signaling that strong defense ties would be part of the agenda.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, which are expected to be concluded by the time EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen, a former German Defense minister, and Antonio Costa, the former Portuguese PM, visit Delhi for the Republic Day parade and the India-EU summit on Jan 26-27.
Friedrich Merz is expected to give a push to the talks, as the German automobile industry is believed to be interested in expanding its footprint in the Indian market. Sources described Germany as “a leading partner for India to achieve its Viksit Bharat goal.”
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According to sources, the bilateral talks will be based on four pillars:
Germany and Make in India: Over 2,000 German companies are active in India. “More German companies are eager to join the Make in India program. The Green and Sustainable Development Partnership is contributing to national projects including Green Hydrogen Mission, Sustainable Urban Mobility, Metro projects and Solar Rooftop projects,” sources said.
Germany and Skill India:
Germany is a leading international partner for skilling people. “Several German entities are partnering with Indian authorities and agencies in this respect,” sources said. The German government will help in setting up a skills development center for professionals in the renewable energy sector.
Germany and Green India:
German companies have established a presence in the Indian renewable energy, next-generation green infrastructure and related industries. There will be growing collaboration in green hydrogen and its derivatives.
Next-gen technology partnership: Germany is an important source for high technology products after having liberalized its export controls, and a key partner in areas such as AI, semiconductor, digital, quantum, etc.
Mobility partnership and people-to-people ties will also be on the conversations table with about 60,000 Indian students studying in Germany, especially for STEM subjects. Some new concessions for Indian students and their education prospects in Germany are on the anvil.
The two sides will unveil a defense and security roadmap, which will also strengthen the defense manufacturing network base in India, and sign up plans to establish a skill development center in Hyderabad.
Friedrich Merz and Modi had spoken immediately after the German Chancellor was sworn in and met twice since then — on the sidelines of the G-7 leaders summit in Canada last June and on the margins of the G20 leaders summit in South Africa in November.
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Significantly, Chancellor Merz’s visit sets the ball rolling for a extensive engagement between India and the European Union, with EU leaders in India for the Republic Day celebrations, followed by the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron in February for the Artificial Intelligence Impact summit in Delhi.
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