India and Germany will endeavor to double their bilateral trade amid major and profound shifts in the global strategic landscape. S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister (EAM), stated on Wednesday that they all wanted the discussions for the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the EU to come to a definitive end as soon as possible.
Following their discussions in New Delhi on Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar and his German colleague Johann Wadephul told reporters that the relationship between Germany and India is still “very steady” and that its importance and weight are increasing. Johann Wadephul, his German colleague, had expressed his confidence that “we would be doubling our trade” with India.
The EAM said, “We have important strategic relationships with a number of countries,” in response to a question about Germany’s role in India’s balancing of strategic partnerships with several countries. Furthermore, maintaining and optimizing each of these ties is a fundamental aspect of modern global politics and strategy.
Accordingly, Germany as a whole and as the largest member of the European Union are, in my opinion, crucial to the calculations and the relationships that exist in the globe. We are two nations that are also part of the G4 and are working to reform the UN and the Security Council. However, if you look at it by almost any metric, I mean whether it is political or economic, we were among the other things we didn’t get to mention here, except for what Johann said at the end of his remarks.
“This bond is really significant to us. This relationship is becoming more meaningful, and I can see that it truly has more worth during this uncertain time. This partnership is incredibly stable. It is a partnership in which the majority of our agreements and policies stay consistent and predictable. Predictability is therefore extremely valuable in today’s world politics. Therefore, I do believe that this friendship is only becoming stronger and more valuable, and that’s part of the reason we’ve spoken to each other and met so frequently over the past several months,” he said.
According to EAM Jaishankar, both countries have made good strides in mobility and education. In order to further encourage student exchanges, he said, the two countries have now agreed on free visas for brief school and college trips.
“We have witnessed positive advancements in mobility and education. I think that Indian students currently make up the majority of international students studying in Germany. During my past two trips there, I heard people from all political parties in Germany praising the role of our community. The German government’s skilled labor plan provides an excellent framework for mutual gain. To further encourage student exchanges, we have also decided to grant free visas for brief trips to schools and colleges.”
More than 200 German businesses operate in India, which is Germany’s main commercial trading partner, according to Wadephul.
He reaffirmed Berlin’s full support for concluding the free trade agreement between India and the European Union, calling India a “rising economic powerhouse” with a “special importance” on the international scene.
In 2024–2025, Germany ranked as India’s eighth-largest commercial partner. In 2023–24, it ranked as India’s 12th largest trading partner, and in 2022–23, it ranked 11th.
Germany has invested $15.11 billion in India between April 2000 and March 2025, making it the ninth-largest foreign direct investor in the country.