During a joint press conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that the German Chancellor’s visit symbolized a significant engagement between the two nations, with dialogues covering areas such as defense, trade, skills, green energy, and people-to-people connections. A notable outcome was a joint declaration aimed at enhancing bilateral defense industrial cooperation and the creation of a Chief Executive Officers’ Forum to foster trade and investment.
A significant mobility-related decision was Germany’s approval of visa-free airport transit for Indian citizens. This arrangement will allow Indian passport holders to navigate through German airports for onward international flights without needing to apply for a separate transit visa, subject to certain conditions. However, it does not authorize visa-free entry into Germany or the broader Schengen area, and Indians traveling for tourism, business, or long-term stays will still need the appropriate visas.
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Migration and skills cooperation were key topics of discussion. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that both nations prioritizing migration, mobility, and skills, pointed out the considerable contributions of Indian professionals, especially in the healthcare sector, to Germany’s economy. A new framework under the Global Skills Partnership was introduced to facilitate the movement of healthcare professionals, along with a comprehensive roadmap for higher education collaboration.
Germany announced an investment of 1.24 billion euros under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership to promote renewable energy, green hydrogen, and climate-resilient urban infrastructure. The two parties agreed to enhance collaboration in clean and sustainable energy and to establish an India–Germany Centre of Excellence aimed at boosting cooperation in green technologies, innovation, and climate action.
The dialogues also yielded agreements concerning economic cooperation, critical minerals, telecommunications, research and development in the bioeconomy, sports cooperation, and postal services, as well as the inauguration of an honorary German consulate in Ahmedabad. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to cooperating on global issues, including the reform of international institutions and coordination in the Indo-Pacific, while also addressing the situations in Ukraine and Gaza.
Chancellor Merz is undertaking a two-day official visit to India, celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations and 25 years of their strategic partnership.
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(Edited by : Priyanka Deshpande)
