Modi to meet Germany’s Merz in Ahmedabad on January 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the Federal Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, on January 12 in Ahmedabad.

Friedrich Merz will be on an official visit to India on January 12-13 at the invitation of the Prime Minister. This will be Chancellor Merz’s first official visit to India. At around 9.30 am on January 12, the two leaders will visit the Sabarmati Ashram and at around 10 am, they will participate in the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront.

This will be followed by bilateral engagements 11.15 am onwards at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

“The two leaders will review the progress made in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which has recently completed 25 years. Their 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 ties,” a PMO statement said today.

Modi and Merz will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance, and engage with business and industry leaders of the two countries. Earlier on January 10 and 11, the PM will visit Somnath in Gujarat and participate in the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.

He will also participate in Shaurya Yatra which will feature a symbolic procession of 108 horses, reflecting valour and sacrifice.

The event is scheduled to mark 1,000 years of unbroken spirit and civilisational continuity since the first plundering of the temple in 1026 by Mahmud of Ghazni.