Germany Sees India as Key Economic Partner, Pushes EU–India Trade Deal
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday said India is emerging as one of Germany’s most important economic partners, highlighting the growing reliance of German companies on Indian skilled workers and the country’s dynamic market. Speaking during his first official visit to India, Merz said Berlin is intensifying efforts to conclude the long-pending EU–India free trade agreement, calling it a shared strategic interest.
Emphasising strong people-to-people ties, Merz noted that around 250,000 Indians are currently learning German and that Germany issues more visas in Bengaluru than anywhere else in the world. He said language learning, work opportunities and academic exchanges are deepening bilateral ties and benefiting both economies. Germany’s demand for Indian professionals, particularly in healthcare, is also rising, supported by a new skill partnership agreement.
On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Merz announced 19 agreements spanning defence cooperation, trade, semiconductors, telecommunications and higher education. The leaders jointly called for early finalisation of the India–EU FTA and unveiled measures such as visa-free transit for Indian travellers. Modi said bilateral trade has crossed a record $50 billion, while Merz underlined the need to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and unilateral dependencies amid global geopolitical tensions.
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