Ahmedabad, January 12, 2026 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz finalized a comprehensive roadmap to deepen higher education cooperation during the Chancellor’s first official visit to India. The leaders held productive discussions in Ahmedabad, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 25th anniversary of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership.
Cultural Welcome Sets Positive Tone
Chancellor Merz arrived in Ahmedabad on January 12. PM Modi warmly welcomed him, and the two leaders visited the historic Sabarmati Ashram to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. They then joined the lively International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront, celebrating the strong people-to-people connection between the two countries.
Leaders Launch Ambitious Higher Education Roadmap
During the talks, PM Modi directly invited German universities to establish campuses in India. This initiative aims to give fresh momentum to academic collaboration and forms the core of a new bilateral roadmap focused on higher education, skilling, research, and emerging technologies.
The roadmap promotes greater student mobility, joint degree programs, collaborative research projects, and stronger institutional partnerships. Both leaders highlighted the rising number of Indian students studying in Germany and the growing cooperation between Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and German technical universities.
Wide-Ranging Strategic and Economic Discussions
The leaders also advanced cooperation in trade, investment, technology, defense, security, renewable energy, and sustainable development. PM Modi emphasized the “limitless” potential for collaboration in strategic sectors, including green hydrogen initiatives and the proposed India-Germany Centre of Excellence for renewable energy knowledge sharing.
Both sides strongly condemned terrorism, calling it a grave threat to humanity, and reaffirmed their support for peaceful resolutions to conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
In the presence of the leaders, officials signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) that will accelerate progress in these fields. Chancellor Merz also announced visa-free transit for Indian citizens, a move PM Modi welcomed as a boost to people-to-people ties.
Looking Forward
Chancellor Merz’s two-day visit (January 12–13) represents his first trip to Asia as German Chancellor and signals Europe’s increasing focus on strategic partnership with India. The agreements and roadmap lay solid groundwork for the next round of India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations, scheduled to take place in Germany later in 2026.
This visit clearly demonstrates that India and Germany actively partner to tackle global challenges through innovation, education, and sustainable development.
India-Germany Ties Strengthen: PM Modi Invites German Universities to Set Up Campuses During Chancellor Merz’s Visit added by AdminEdu on
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