India and Germany agree on close cooperation in the field of maritime heritage

Memorandum of Understanding signed between the German Maritime Museum (DSM) / Leibniz Institute for Maritime History and the National Maritime Heritage Complex Lothal

The visit of Indian Consul General Soumya Gupta to the German Maritime Museum two weeks ago gave an important boost to German-Indian exchange in the field of maritime heritage. In addition to a tour of the permanent and special exhibitions, the focus was on deepening cooperation. The personal exchange also marked a further step towards a structurally anchored partnership between the two countries.

This strategic rapprochement was already expressed at the highest political level in January: During German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first visit to South Asia at the beginning of the year, India and Germany signed an important Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of maritime museums. The aim of the agreement is to jointly research and preserve the maritime heritage of both countries and raise its international profile.

The cooperation centers on the German Maritime Museum (DSM) / Leibniz Institute for Maritime History and the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, India. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Prime Minister Modi described the agreement as “a historic step that will connect the maritime history of our two countries.”

Concrete measures and common goals

The Memorandum of Understanding provides for close cooperation in several areas, including joint research projects, exchanges of experts and scientists, academic and professional exchange programs, workshops, and the sharing of archival and research resources. The aim is to further expand the scientific depth, curatorial quality, and international perspective of the NMHC's exhibitions and galleries in Lothal.

Prof. Dr. Ruth Schilling, Director of the DSM: "The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is a significant step for international cooperation in the field of maritime heritage. The sea was and is a shared space of exchange, innovation, and encounter—with this partnership, we are connecting the maritime histories of India and Germany on a scientific, museum, and cultural level. We look forward to opening up new perspectives on maritime history together and to deepening the dialogue between our institutions in the long term."

By combining the internationally recognized expertise of the German Maritime Museum with the NMHC's vision of comprehensively presenting India's rich maritime heritage, the partnership aims to make a lasting contribution to knowledge generation, capacity building, and the further development of maritime museology. Details regarding the scope and duration of the collaboration will be finalized in the coming months.

Part of a comprehensive bilateral cooperation package

The agreement is part of a broader package of bilateral memoranda of understanding between India and Germany, which also includes cooperation in the areas of defense—including maritime security—competence development, health, and education. It underscores the shared commitment of both countries to intensify their relations not only economically and politically, but also culturally and in the field of museums.

International visibility at the Raisina Dialogue

Last week, Prof. Dr. Ruth Schilling participated as a speaker at the Raisina Dialogue, India's leading conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, which has been held annually in New Delhi since 2016. This three-day event was organized by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and brings together leading global policymakers, decision-makers, researchers, and industry experts to discuss key international issues. Prof. Dr. Ruth Schilling's participation underscores the growing importance of cultural and scientific cooperation in the geopolitical context and at the same time offers a platform to present the new German-Indian partnership in the field of maritime heritage to a high-level international audience.