Ahmedabad: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will arrive in India on January 12 for his first official visit to the country, with Ahmedabad scheduled as the first stop of his two-day tour, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.

The MEA, in a statement, said: At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, will pay an official visit to India on January 12–13, 2026. This will be Chancellor Merz’s first official visit to India. On the visit, he will be travelling to Ahmedabad and Bengaluru.

Prime Minister Modi will receive Chancellor Merz on January 12, 2026, in Ahmedabad. 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 discussion will also focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while also advancing collaboration in important domains of defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people relations.

Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz will also engage with business and industry leaders and exchange views on issues of regional and global importance.

The visit will build on the momentum generated by regular interactions at the highest political level. It will provide a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and Germany to build a forward-looking partnership for the benefit of the people of both countries and the wider global community.

It is learnt that during the visit, the Chancellor Merz is likely to stay at the 5-star Hotel ITC Narmada in the Vastrapur area of the city. DeshGujarat