German Chancellor Merz Arrives in India: Trade, Defence, Tech & Geopolitics Top Agenda

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz begins his first bilateral trip outside NATO and the EU in India, signaling India's growing importance.
• Merz will meet PM Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, visit Sabarmati Ashram, and travel to Bengaluru to see the Indian Institute of Science and Bosch campus.
• Accompanied by 25 German company CEOs, discussions will cover trade, defence, supply chains, technology, education, and global geopolitics.
• India-Germany trade volume reached $50 billion last year, with over 2,000 German companies in India and 750 Indian firms in Germany.
• Migration of skilled Indian workers to Germany is a success, with Germany seeking caregivers, nurses, and craftspeople; defence cooperation roadmap expected.

Why It Matters: German Chancellor Merz's India visit strengthens bilateral ties across trade, technology, defence, and skilled migration.