PM Modi to meet German Chancellor in Ahmedabad next week

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad next week as the two countries explore the possibility of signing several key agreements during the much-anticipated visit.

The German Chancellor will be on an official visit to India on 12-13 January at the invitation of PM Modi. This will be his first official visit to India.

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An official press note said that at around 9:30 hours on 12 January, the two leaders will visit the Sabarmati Ashram and then participate in the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront. This will be followed by bilateral engagements at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

The two leaders will review the progress made in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which has recently completed 25 years. Their discussion will also focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while also advancing collaboration in important domains of defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.

PM Modi and Chancellor Merz will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance, and engage with business and industry leaders of the two countries. The recent US action in Venezuela and the ongoing Ukraine conflict are expected to figure prominently during the discussions.

The German leader’s visit is expected to be followed by many other important trips by European leaders.

Top European Union (EU) leaders are expected to be chief guests at the Republic Day parade this year. India and the EU are also looking at the possibility of inking a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is expected to be a win-win deal for both sides in the backdrop of the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron and other key European leaders are expected to be in India in February when New Delhi hosts the AI Summit.