German Chancellor Merz begins his first state visit to India – DW – 01/12/2026

Merz’s first visit to India as chancellor will see him stop at the western city of Ahmedabad and the southern city of Bengaluru. 

Here are some interesting facts that may have influenced the German chancellor’s itinerary:

Ahmedabad

• Lies in the western state of Gujarat, on the banks of the Sabarmati River

• Considered by many as Narendra Modi’s home base and a stronghold of his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party

• Frequently used for high-profile domestic and international events

• One of India’s major industrial and commercial centers

• Key hub for a number of German and international companies

Bengaluru (formerly known as Bangalore)

• Often called India’s Silicon Valley 

• Considered India’s earliest and most influential technology hub

• Home to many German companies (such as: Siemens, Bosch, Mercedes-Benz)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India on Monday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Merz is scheduled to meet Modi in the western city of Ahmedabad on Monday. 

“The two leaders will take stock of the progress made in diverse aspects of the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which completed 25 years last year,” the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the visit.

Merz and Modi will discuss deepening cooperation in sectors including trade, investment, technology, education and defence.

The German chancellor is also due to visit the Gandhi Ashram, once the residence of Mahatma Gandhi and a main center for India’s struggle for freedom from British colonial rule. 

On Tuesday, Merz is visiting Bengaluru (also known as Bangalore), the center of India’s high-tech industry.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India for a two-day inaugural visit. He landed in Ahmedabad. the largest city in the state of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home region, shortly before 2:00 a.m. local time on Monday.

Modi will officially welcome Merz in the morning at a memorial to the national hero, Mahatma Gandhi.

Large signs bearing images of Merz and Modi line the streets of the eight-million-person city in welcome of the chancellor. Today, the two leaders will attend the traditional kite festival together.

This festival marks the transition from winter to summer, with thousands of paper kites taking to the skies. Only then will the political talks begin.

Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz is traveling to India for a two-day visit, his first since becoming chancellor in May 2025.

Merz is due to visit Ahmedabad, the largest city in the western state of Gujarat, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political home base. 

The visit, which kickstarts Merz’s diplomatic activities this year, comes ahead of an EU-India summit later this month, where a long-awaited free trade agreement is widely expected to be signed.

This blog will bring you all the latest news, videos and analyses from Merz’s visit. Stay tuned!