India and Germany on Friday deepened their strategic partnership following high-level delegation talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Gandhinagar, marking the 25th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership.

The visit resulted in the exchange of 19 memoranda of understanding and eight key announcements covering defence, advanced technology, clean energy and skills cooperation. Both leaders reiterated support for concluding the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement, with the German side indicating that negotiations could be wrapped up by the end of the month, ahead of the upcoming EU–India Summit.

Several joint declarations of intent were signed across sectors including semiconductors, critical minerals, telecommunications and a Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap focused on co-development and co-production of military hardware. Talent mobility and skills cooperation featured prominently, with a major highlight being the announcement of a visa-free transit facility for Indian passport holders transiting through Germany.

On the economic front, the two sides welcomed the establishment of a CEO Forum to strengthen bilateral trade and investment. In the area of sustainability, Germany announced a fresh funding commitment of €1.24 billion under the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership, supporting initiatives such as the PM e-Bus Sewa programme and green hydrogen projects.

The leaders also announced the setting up of an India–Germany Centre of Excellence to deepen collaboration in green technologies, innovation and climate action. They welcomed the signing of one of the largest offtake agreements under India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, involving the supply of green ammonia from AM Green to Uniper Global Commodities.

Cultural cooperation was also strengthened with an agreement for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in collaboration with the German Maritime Museum. In addition, a comprehensive roadmap on higher education was exchanged to deepen institutional ties between universities and research bodies in both countries.

The visit concluded with an emphasis on sports and youth engagement, including a new agreement aimed at promoting youth hockey development.