Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Swiss President Sees India as Long-Term Partner, Eyes Trade Boost
Swiss President Guy Parmelin visited India for three days and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said Swiss companies see India as a partner for the long term.
Companies from Switzerland are investing or considering investment in many kinds of businesses in India.
Parmelin expects a trade agreement between India and EFTA countries to help trade grow, but said it is too soon to know its full effects.
He also said India and Switzerland share goals for artificial intelligence and wants India involved in a global AI summit in Geneva in 2027.
Switzerland said it will work with other countries to stop money from being used to fund terrorism.
The two countries have also made agreements on migration and mobility.
Parmelin said about 1,500 to 1,900 work permits are issued to Indians in Switzerland each year.
He said the countries have been exchanging financial account information since 2019.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin said Swiss businesses view India as a serious long-term partner across several industries.
Parmelin expects the India-EFTA trade pact to significantly boost bilateral trade, though he said it is too early to assess its full impact.
Trade, investment, technology, innovation and mobility featured in Parmelin’s talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his three-day state visit.
Switzerland plans to involve India in preparations for the 2027 global AI summit in Geneva and praised India's efforts to amplify Global South voices.
Parmelin cited cooperation on countering terror financing, financial information exchange and agreements intended to support migration and mobility.
- Who
- Swiss President Guy Parmelin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- Parmelin's state visit focused on trade, investment, technology, innovation, mobility and cooperation on other issues.
- When
- Parmelin began a three-day visit on Monday; the article does not give a calendar date.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To discuss and strengthen cooperation between Switzerland and India.
- State visit
- Three days; began on Monday.
- Trade agreement
- The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) came into force in October 2025.
- TEPA outlook
- Parmelin expects the pact to significantly boost bilateral trade, while noting its full impact is too early to assess.
- AI summit
- Switzerland is due to host the next global AI summit in Geneva in 2027.
- Work permits
- Parmelin said Switzerland issues about 1,500 to 1,900 work permits to Indians each year.
- Indian residents
- Parmelin said around 19,000 Indian nationals live in Switzerland.
- Financial information exchange
- Automatic exchange of financial account information between Switzerland and India has operated since the first exchange in 2019.