Swiss President Guy Parmelin will pay a state visit to India from October 5 to 7 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with trade, investment, technology and mobility expected to feature prominently in discussions between the two countries.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit will be Parmelin’s first state visit to India. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior officials and business leaders. The Swiss President had earlier travelled to New Delhi in February to participate in the AI Impact Summit.
Parmelin will hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi on October 5 to review cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, science and technology, innovation, mobility, culture and people-to-people ties. The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and global developments and cooperation in multilateral forums.
During his visit, Parmelin will meet President Droupadi Murmu, who will host an official banquet in his honour. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is also scheduled to call on the Swiss President.
The visit carries particular economic significance as Parmelin is scheduled to participate in the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit on October 7. The event will mark the first anniversary of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement coming into force.
Switzerland is India’s largest trade and investment partner among the European Free Trade Association countries, which also include Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The anniversary provides an opportunity for both sides to review progress under the agreement and explore further opportunities for economic cooperation.
India and Switzerland have maintained longstanding diplomatic relations, with the two countries establishing formal ties in 1948. Their engagement has expanded over the years across trade, investment, science, technology, education and other areas.
The upcoming visit follows continued high-level exchanges between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi also met President Parmelin in Geneva in June during his journey to France for the G7 Summit.
The Swiss President’s state visit is expected to provide another platform for India and Switzerland to strengthen bilateral cooperation and advance their economic partnership, particularly in the context of the India-EFTA trade agreement.
