On German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's India (Ahmedabad and Bengaluru) visit, Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, said, "India and Germany celebrated 25 years of strategic partnership last year. This year, we are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. So the year marking the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations starts with the Chancellor's visit. It's a good and strong signal... One should not underestimate because it's his first bilateral visit outside the EU-US framework.'
00:00India and Germany mark 25 years of a strategic partnership. What is this program be like?
00:04So let me start by saying that India and Germany had celebrated 25 years of strategic partnership last year.
00:13This year we are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations.
00:17So the year of the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations starts with the visit of the Chancellor.
00:23It's a good signal. It's a strong signal and I would add it is a signal that you should not underestimate
00:29because it's the first bilateral visit of the Chancellor outside the EU-US framework.
00:35So he has never been in another country on a bilateral visit.
00:39He wanted to make it a point to be in India very early on in his tenure.
00:45So for us it's an extremely important visit. India for us is one of our key partners in the world.
00:51Our partnership is growing every year. It is differentiated. It is very strong. It is strategic.
00:57And in this framework we will see the visit of the Chancellor.
01:01Ambassador, the Chancellor is visiting Ahmedabad in Bangalore.
01:04What message does Germany want to send by engaging beyond New Delhi and particularly in innovation hubs and industry hubs?
01:13So I think you should say that the reason why we go to Ahmedabad is because the Prime Minister was so kind to invite us there.
01:20So I think we have to see it as a particular gesture of friendship and warmth by the Prime Minister to invite the Chancellor to his hometown.
01:29We on the German side really appreciate this gesture. It's a gesture that is not very often done and made.
01:35And I'm very happy that my Chancellor really meets the Prime Minister in his own region, in his own state.
01:41So Ahmedabad and Gujarat are one powerhouse of India and there is a lot of German business also in Gujarat and the number is growing.
01:49So it is a fabulous place to meet the Prime Minister and have the talks between our delegations and between the two leaders.
01:58Now Bengaluru, as you know, is for us a very important hub. There is a lot of German business there.
02:03Chancellor will see a couple of German companies and will bring a couple of German CEOs. For us, Bangalore is usually the hub of technology where German business gets more and more invested.
02:16What are the areas that you expect the two leaders to prioritise in during their meetings?
02:22So I think business is one of the big, we just talked about it, big items on the agenda.
02:27As I said, you know, the Chancellor will be accompanied by a very large business delegation, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister will have an interaction with the business delegation from India and Germany, mixed delegation.
02:39So the question on how, you know, German, Indo-German relations in the field of business and economy can be strengthened and can be enhanced is certainly one big item on the agenda.
02:52But there is also the question of migration on the agenda. There is, you know, Germany has a very good experience with fair and legal migration from India.
03:03We are working with state and center authorities in India in order to promote legal and fair migration in areas where skilled labor is needed in Germany and that's certainly on the agenda.
03:15Another item is the growing defense and security cooperation between the two countries, which, which are, you know, have a lot of potential.
03:24There will be a joint intent, a joint declaration of intent, signed to develop a roadmap in the security and defense cooperation.
03:36So that's a very important start. And then, last but not least, this is logical, the two leaders will exchange views on the geopolitical situation.
03:46So we also have India EU FTA signing this year. And since you mentioned about the trade relationship, how does Germany support the FTA signing?
03:53So Germany is a huge promoter and a fan of an FTA. We do hope and we are optimistic that by the EU India Summit on 27th of January this year, we will be having something in front of us that the EU can sign, that India can sign.
04:09We feel that an FTA is a game changer in our trade and industrial relations. I will tell you that German business is eagerly looking forward to having this FTA and the Chancellor will certainly make that point.
04:24Also, the visit, his visit being two weeks ahead of the EU India Summit is also a clear signal to the Indian side how much my country, Germany, is really hoping for a good FTA and the Chancellor will make that point.
04:38Are we also going to see any discussion on emerging technologies and higher education, sir?
04:43Yes, we will certainly talk about both these areas. You know that we have now 60,000 students of Indian origin in Germany or Indian students in Germany. It's a wonderful number.
04:55German universities are very happy with Indian students. They have the reputation of being extremely committed, hardworking, ambitious and we feel that this is a very good sign and reflects the character of our partnership when it comes to research and higher education also.
05:15Ambassador, just last question. Since you mentioned about defense and security, how is Germany approaching this cooperation with India in this global security environment?
05:26So, I think India is a key partner for Germany. You mentioned the 25 years of strategic partnership.
05:32This strategic partnership has grown over the years. We feel that India is also a very important partner when it comes to defense. You have seen much more German presence in the cooperation with the Indian Armed Forces over the last couple of years.
05:48There is clearly an enhanced willingness and preparedness to join hands in some exercises. We have seen German participation in Tarak Shakti. We will see German participation in the Milan maneuvers in February in Visakhapatnam.
06:04So, there is a strong willingness from our side to engage more with the Indian Armed Forces because we feel that India is more and more an important partner in this region of the world and a partner with whom we share common values, common views on the international global order and therefore I think security will be one of the areas where we will be developing much more of a differentiated partnership in the years to come.
06:31And, sir, we are entering, we have already entered into 2026. Where do you see the bilateral relationship between the two countries going forward this year?
06:40So, I think we are at an all-time high. You know, our partnership was never as good as it is now. I am very happy to see, you know, how strong the partnership is, how strong the, you know, the attention in Germany is for India and how strong the friendship in India is for Germany.
06:57So, it is really very heartening to see that. But a strong partnership can always be stronger and better. And I think this visit will lead to a renewed effort to make this partnership even stronger.
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