Swiss President Guy Parmelin to visit India from October 5-7; bilateral ties, trade and EFTA pact on agenda
By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru, Oct 1. 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 bilateral trade, investment, technology and the India-EFTA economic partnership expected to figure prominently during his visit.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Parmelin will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior officials and business leaders. It will be his first State visit to India and his second visit to the country this year. He had earlier travelled to New Delhi in February 2026 to participate in the AI Impact Summit.
The visit comes amid regular high-level exchanges between India and Switzerland. The last State visit by an Indian President to Switzerland took place in 2019, while Prime Minister Modi visited Switzerland in 2016 and again in 2018.
PM Modi-Parmelin talks on October 5
PM Modi and President Parmelin are scheduled to hold bilateral discussions on October 5.
The talks will review progress in bilateral cooperation across a broad range of areas, including trade and investment, science, technology and innovation, mobility, culture and people-to-people contacts.
The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global developments and discuss cooperation in multilateral fora.
Parmelin will also meet President Droupadi Murmu, who will host an official banquet in his honour. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to call on the Swiss President during the visit.
Focus on India-EFTA trade partnership
A key part of Parmelin’s visit will be his participation in the 2nd India-EFTA Prosperity Summit on October 7, which will mark the first anniversary of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) coming into force.
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) comprises Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is India’s largest trade and investment partner among the EFTA countries, giving Parmelin’s participation in the summit added significance.
The India-EFTA partnership is expected to provide an important platform for reviewing progress under the economic agreement and exploring further opportunities for trade and investment cooperation.
Longstanding India-Switzerland ties
India and Switzerland share longstanding friendly relations, with cooperation extending across economic, technological, cultural and people-to-people links.
The Swiss President’s visit is expected to build on the regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and deepen cooperation in emerging areas of mutual interest.
The MEA said that the visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand the partnership between India and Switzerland.
India and Switzerland maintain strong diplomatic and economic ties, highlighted by the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)which entered into force in October 2025.
Diplomatic and Political Relations
Foundational Ties: Diplomatic relations were established in 1947, shortly after India’s independence, followed by a Treaty of Friendship in August 1948.
High-Level Visits: Swiss President Guy Parmelin is scheduled to visit India from October 5–7, 2026, to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, focusing on bilateral cooperation and the EFTA-India partnership.
Recent Engagements: Swiss leadership previously engaged with Indian officials during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026 to review trade, innovation, and technological collaboration.
Economic and Trade Cooperation
Bilateral Trade: Bilateral trade reached roughly USD 27 billion, with Swiss direct investment in India surpassing CHF 10.2 billion supported by around 350 active Swiss companies.
TEPA Framework: The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA—comprising Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) serves as the primary anchor for boosting investments and market access.
Proposed Initiatives: Discussions have included proposals for a dedicated Swiss Enclave in India to streamline business operations and manufacturing for Swiss enterprises.
Science, Technology, and Culture
Joint Research: Cooperation in science and technology has been active since 2003 via the Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme.
People-to-People Links: Cultural exchanges, strong tourism numbers (hundreds of thousands of Indian tourists visiting Switzerland annually), and shared creative profiles continue to strengthen mutual affinity.
