India, Switzerland sign pacts to boost ties
India and Switzerland agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, innovation, infrastructure, research and people-to-people exchanges as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Guy Parmelin held bilateral talks in New Delhi on Monday.
Parmelin arrived in India for a three-day State visit, his second trip to the country this year. He visited India earlier in February for the AI summit. Switzerland is scheduled to host the next AI summit in Geneva in 2027.
The visit comes as India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) mark the first anniversary of their Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). Switzerland, along with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, is part of EFTA and is India’s largest trade and investment partner within the grouping.
More than 340 Swiss companies currently operate in India. Under TEPA, EFTA countries have committed to promoting $100 billion of investment in India over 15 years, with the potential to generate one million direct jobs.
Five agreements were signed during Parmelin’s visit, reflecting a broader effort to expand bilateral relations beyond commerce.
A key focus was mobility. India and Switzerland signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement intended to create greater opportunities for Indian students, researchers, professionals and young people. The agreement provides for multiple-entry visas valid for five years, with stays of up to six months per entry for eligible Indian citizens. Students can receive renewable one-year permits. The two countries also signed an agreement concerning the exchange of young professionals, aimed at facilitating international work and professional experience for younger citizens.
Infrastructure and sustainable development formed another major area of cooperation. An agreement will encourage collaboration in sustainable infrastructure, transport and mobility, including electric vehicles, ropeways, tunnels and the circular economy.
Research and technological innovation were also placed high on the agenda. A Letter of Intent between India’s Department of Science and Technology and the Swiss National Science Foundation will seek to strengthen long-term cooperation between research communities in the two countries.
A separate implementation arrangement involving the Department of Science and Technology and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences will promote cooperation in innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
The inaugural session of the Indo-Swiss Research Partnership is also being held during the visit, with potential collaboration in areas including healthcare, clean energy and space.
“Today, innovation, infrastructure, and advanced technology are strong pillars of our partnership,” Modi said ahead of his discussions with Parmelin.
The leaders also exchanged views on international developments, including the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. Both sides emphasised the importance of finding negotiated solutions to conflicts.
The discussions come as India and European countries seek to strengthen economic and strategic partnerships amid changes in global trade and geopolitics. While India’s engagement with Europe has gained momentum in recent years, shifting US trade and foreign-policy priorities have added further urgency to efforts to diversify international partnerships.
The latest agreements are expected to give fresh momentum to India-Switzerland relations, with cooperation increasingly extending from trade and investment to mobility, research, technology, infrastructure and innovation.
