New Delhi / Gujarat: During German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s two-day visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted him in Gujarat, resulting in 19 major agreements between India and Germany. The deals cover critical areas including defence, trade, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and key minerals, reflecting strengthened bilateral ties amid shifting global dynamics following recent U.S. tariff pressures on India.
Strategic and Defence Cooperation
A joint declaration emphasized enhancing defence-industrial collaboration, paving the way for co-development and co-production initiatives between the two nations. Indian passport holders will now enjoy visa-free transit through Germany, easing travel and strengthening people-to-people ties.
Prime Minister Modi said, “Growing cooperation in defence and security demonstrates mutual trust and a shared vision. I sincerely thank Chancellor Merz for streamlining processes linked to defence trade and for advancing collaboration in emerging and critical technologies.”
Key Agreements and Initiatives
Among the 19 agreements, highlights include:
- Establishment of a CEO Forum to boost bilateral economic cooperation
- Joint intent for India-Germany semiconductor ecosystem partnership
- Collaboration in critical minerals like lithium and cobalt
- Telecommunications cooperation and MoUs between national electronics institutes and Infineon Technologies AG
- Agreements in healthcare, Ayurveda, renewable energy, and green ammonia
- Extension of the Indo-German Science & Technology Center (IGSTC) collaboration
- Joint Declarations of Intent (JDI) for higher education, skill development, and ethical recruitment of healthcare professionals
- Maritime heritage and port development agreements
- Sports collaborations, including youth hockey development
- Digital cooperation plan for 2025-2027
- Green and sustainable development partnership funding of €1.24 billion
- Expansion of triangular development cooperation in Africa (Ghana, Cameroon, Malawi) for technology, agriculture, and entrepreneurship projects
These agreements not only strengthen bilateral trade and defence ties but also promote collaboration in renewable energy, AI, green technology, and digital infrastructure, marking a significant step forward in India-Germany strategic partnership.
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