India, Germany ink agreement to boost maritime museum collaboration in Chancellor's first visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Gujarat's Gandhinagar to boost ties between the two nations.

A key agreement India inked with Europe's largest economy will see two premier maritime institutions join forces—the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NHMC) at Lothal with the German Maritime Museum/Leibniz Institute for Maritime History (DSM) at Bremerhaven.

According to the Centre, the maritime Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two for museum collaborations is expected to "deepen cooperation on maritime heritage and showcase shared elements of maritime history".

However, the finer details, such as the scope and duration of the museum collaboration are not yet known.

"This is a historic step that will connect the maritime histories of both our countries," PM Modi said after the meeting.

The maritime agreements were part of a larger collection of MoUs—spanning defence (including maritime defence agreements), skill development, health, and education—signed between the two nations, in what is Merz's first visit to South Asia since becoming Chancellor.

“India is a desired partner, a partner of choice for Germany,” Merz said, as per an Associated Press report.

Merz's visit comes ahead of an India-EU summit later this month, where New Delhi hopes to go forward with a long overdue free trade agreement with Europe that could reduce the burden of the Donald Trump administration's steep 50 per cent tariff rate on India.

He is scheduled to leave after a number of engagements with Indian and German business and technology leaders in Bengaluru on Tuesday.