From defence to green ammonia: India, Germany sign key MoUs during PM Modi–Friedrich Merz talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi fly kites during the inauguration of the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, India, January 12, 2026. (REUTERS)

• India and Germany signed key defence, energy, and technology agreements
• Leaders celebrated 25 years of partnership with new MoUs and collaborations.
• Green ammonia deal and cooperation in education, healthcare, and sports agreed

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India and Germany on Monday signed a wide range of key agreements covering defence, emerging technologies, energy, education and skilling, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his first official visit to India.

The two leaders discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues, marking a significant moment in India-Germany relations as the two countries celebrate 25 years of their Strategic Partnership.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Chancellor Merz thanked PM Modi for inviting him to Gujarat, calling the state a symbol of modern India’s economic dynamism and historical legacy. “This city, in many ways, is the cradle of modern India, where Gandhi started his non-violent freedom struggle. Gujarat also has impressive economic dynamics,” Merz said.

Prime Minister Modi underlined the importance of close economic cooperation between the two countries, describing it as vital for humanity. He said Merz’s visit was adding “new energy, new confidence, and new dimensions” to the long-standing partnership between India and Germany.

The visit saw the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding and Joint Declarations of Intent across strategic sectors, including defence industrial cooperation, semiconductors, critical minerals, telecommunications, renewable energy, healthcare, education, and sports.

Among the key outcomes was an offtake agreement for green ammonia between Indian firm AM Green and German company Uniper Global Commodities, reflecting the growing focus on clean energy collaboration. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as bioeconomy research, higher education, skilling in renewable energy, and ethical recruitment of healthcare professionals.

A series of institutional partnerships was also formalised, spanning electronics and information technology, Ayurveda research, gas and water regulation, maritime heritage, postal services, and youth hockey development.

List of key MoUs and agreements signed:

• Joint Declaration of Intent on Strengthening the Bilateral Defence Industrial Cooperation
• Joint Declaration of Intent on Strengthening the Bilateral Economic Cooperation by Establishing a Chief Executive Officers’ Forum Integrated into, and as Part of, a Joint India-Germany Economic and Investment Committee
• Joint Declaration of Intent on India Germany Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership
• Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Critical Minerals
• Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Telecommunications
• MoU between National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology and Infineon Technologies AG
• Memorandum of Understanding between All India Institute of Ayurveda and Charite University, Germany
• Memorandum of Understanding between Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) and the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water Industries (DVGW)
• Offtake Agreement for Green Ammonia between Indian Company, AM Green and German Company, Uniper Global Commodities on Green Ammonia
• Joint Declaration of Intent for Joint Cooperation in Research and Development on Bioeconomy
• Joint Declaration of Intent on the extension of tenure of the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC)
• Indo-German Roadmap on Higher Education
• Joint Declaration of Intent on the Framework Conditions of Global Skill Partnerships for Fair, Ethical and Sustainable Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals
• Joint Declaration of Intent for Establishment of a National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Renewable Energy at National Skill Training Institute, Hyderabad
• Memorandum of Understanding betweenNational Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Government of the Republic of India and German Maritime Museum-Leibniz Institute for Maritime History, Bremerhaven, Germany, for the Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, Gujarat
• Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in Sport
• Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Postal Services
• Letter of Intent between the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, and Deutsche Post AG
• Memorandum of Understanding on Youth Hockey Development between Hockey India and German Hockey Federation (Deutscher Hockey-Bund e.V.)