AHMEDABAD, Jan. 12 — German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India on Monday for a two-day official visit, his first since assuming office, and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.
Merz arrived in Ahmedabad earlier today and was warmly received at the airport by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, according to a post by the Ministry of External Affairs on X. The visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi and coincides with celebrations marking 75 years of India-Germany diplomatic relations and 25 years of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.
“Welcome to India! Willkommen in Indien! Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Ahmedabad on an official visit. Warmly received by Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat at the airport. India and Germany are celebrating 75 years of India-Germany diplomatic ties and 25 years of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership. Chancellor Merz’s visit and his meeting with PM Narendra Modi, later in the day, will further strengthen India-Germany partnership,” the MEA post said.
Chancellor Merz will be in India from January 12 to January 13. On Monday morning, the two leaders are scheduled to visit the Sabarmati Ashram at around 9:30 am, followed by participation in the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront at around 10 am. Bilateral engagements will take place from 11:15 am onwards at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
During their meetings, Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz will review progress in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which recently marked its 25th anniversary. Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, as well as advancing collaboration in defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.
The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global issues and engage with business and industry leaders from both countries.
The visit is expected to build on the momentum generated by regular high-level political interactions and provide an opportunity to reaffirm India and Germany’s shared vision for a forward-looking partnership that benefits both nations and the wider global community.
On January 13, Chancellor Merz is scheduled to visit Bosch and the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) before departing for Germany.
Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where they agreed to further broaden the bilateral strategic partnership. During that interaction, Prime Minister Modi invited the German Chancellor to undertake an official visit to India.
The visit is also taking place ahead of the India-EU Summit scheduled for January 27.
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