German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to India for a two-day official visit beginning January 12. The visit is at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This will be Merz’s first official trip to India since taking office. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to receive him in Ahmedabad on the opening day of the visit.
The timing is significant. The visit coincides with a series of major economic and cultural events being hosted in Gujarat.
Visit coincides with Vibrant Gujarat events
Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Rajkot on January 11, a day before the German Chancellor’s arrival. The conference is aimed at boosting investment in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions.
Gujarat will also be hosting the International Kite Festival during the same period. The Prime Minister is expected to attend festival events in Ahmedabad and visit the International Flower Show 2026 at the Sabarmati riverfront.
Officials say the overlap of diplomatic, business and cultural engagements adds weight to the visit.
Focus on strategic partnership and economic ties
During their meeting, Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz will review progress in the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, which completed 25 years last year.
Talks are expected to cover technology cooperation, education, skilling, trade and investment, and mobility. Science, defence, security, innovation, and green development will also feature in discussions.
Both leaders are scheduled to interact with business and industry representatives. Regional and global issues are also likely to come up.
The visit follows regular high-level exchanges between the two sides. Modi and Merz last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, where the Indian Prime Minister had extended an invitation for this visit.
The German Chancellor will also travel to Bengaluru. The trip comes ahead of the India–EU Summit, scheduled for January 27.