Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took a significant step to bolster economic collaboration by jointly chairing a high-profile CEOs Forum in New Delhi. The meeting, held on January 12, 2026, brought together top business leaders from both nations to explore concrete avenues for strengthening partnership and investment.
High-Level Dialogue on Strategic Partnership
The forum served as a pivotal platform for direct dialogue between the political leadership and corporate captains. Chancellor Merz, who is on an official visit to India, emphasized the robust state of bilateral relations, describing them as "excellent and deep." He highlighted the mutual trust and shared democratic values that form the bedrock of the Indo-German relationship. The discussions were strategically focused on identifying new areas for collaboration and addressing opportunities to enhance trade and investment flows between the two economies.
Prime Minister Modi underscored the immense potential for German businesses in India, particularly in the context of the nation's rapid growth and transformative economic policies. He pointed to sectors where German expertise and Indian dynamism could create powerful synergies. The talks were forward-looking, aiming to build on the existing strong foundations of the strategic partnership.
Key Sectors for Future Collaboration
The business leaders and policymakers engaged in detailed conversations covering a wide spectrum of industries with high potential for joint ventures and knowledge exchange. The focus was notably on cutting-edge and sustainable fields:
- Green Energy and Sustainability: Discussions centred on collaboration in renewable energy technologies, hydrogen, and sustainable urban development, aligning with India's ambitious climate goals.
- Advanced Technology and Innovation: Areas like artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, and digital infrastructure were highlighted as prime spaces for partnership.
- Defence and Security: The forum explored opportunities for co-development and co-production of defence equipment, a key pillar of the bilateral partnership.
- Skilling and Vocational Training: Given Germany's renowned dual education system, enhancing cooperation in skill development to create a future-ready workforce was a key point of discussion.
Building on a Strong Economic Foundation
This high-level engagement is not an isolated event but part of a continuum of deepening economic ties. Germany stands as India's most important trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade consistently holding strong. Furthermore, Germany is a leading source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for India, with over 2,000 German companies having a significant and growing presence in the Indian market. These companies are estimated to have created more than 500,000 direct and indirect jobs in India.
The CEOs Forum aimed to translate the positive political momentum into tangible business outcomes. It provided a direct channel for industry leaders to present their views and for governments to understand the on-ground opportunities and challenges. The meeting reinforced the commitment from both sides to create an even more conducive environment for business, innovation, and mutual growth.
The outcomes of this forum are expected to feed into the broader framework of Indo-German relations, potentially influencing policy directions and paving the way for new agreements and memoranda of understanding in the coming months. The event signals a shared vision to elevate the economic dimension of the strategic partnership to new heights, leveraging complementary strengths for shared prosperity.
