Swiss President Guy Parmelin Begins Three-Day State Visit to India as TEPA Enters Second Year

President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin began a three-day State Visit to India on October 5, 2026, opening a new round of high-level engagement focused on trade, investment, science, innovation and the implementation of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.

Parmelin is visiting India from October 5 to 7 and is accompanied by a delegation of Swiss business and academic representatives. The visit coincides with the first anniversary of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, or TEPA, which entered into force on October 1, 2025.

State Visit Focuses on India-Switzerland Bilateral Cooperation

According to the Swiss Federal Government, Parmelin’s meetings in New Delhi are centred on global developments and the broader India-Switzerland relationship.

The official agenda includes discussions on economic exchanges, Swiss investment in India, education, research, innovation and migration. Meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of the Indian government form part of the visit.

The visit is Parmelin’s second trip to India in 2026. In February, he attended the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi and held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi.

During that meeting, the two leaders reviewed cooperation across trade and investment, science and technology, innovation, skill development, cultural exchanges and people-to-people relations. They also highlighted the potential of TEPA to deepen economic ties between India and Switzerland.

TEPA Forms the Economic Backdrop to the Visit

The State Visit comes one year after the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement became operational.

EFTA comprises Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. The agreement is designed to improve market access, strengthen investment flows and provide greater predictability for businesses operating between India and the four EFTA countries.

Switzerland says TEPA has improved access to the Indian market for Swiss companies while increasing legal certainty for investors. India is Switzerland’s second-largest trading partner in Asia and its largest trading partner in South Asia.

More than 330 Swiss companies currently operate in India, giving the economic relationship a substantial corporate base and making implementation of TEPA particularly important in the next phase of bilateral ties.

Science and Innovation Remain Major Pillars

Scientific cooperation is another important element of the bilateral relationship.

India and Switzerland already maintain institutional cooperation in research, technology and education, and the current visit includes a high-level event dedicated to scientific cooperation.

During their February meeting, Modi and Parmelin agreed to deepen collaboration in innovation-led growth, joint research, exchange of best practices, training and capacity building.

The emphasis on science and innovation gives the partnership a dimension beyond conventional trade, particularly as both countries expand cooperation in advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, research and skills.

Parmelin to Visit Noida International Airport

The Swiss President’s programme for October 6 includes a visit to Noida International Airport, which is operated by a subsidiary of Zurich Airport.

The visit highlights a visible example of Swiss participation in India’s infrastructure sector. Parmelin is also scheduled to meet representatives from different business sectors during the day.

These engagements are expected to connect the policy framework created by TEPA with individual investment projects and commercial partnerships.

India-EFTA Prosperity Summit to Conclude the Visit

The State Visit will conclude on October 7 with the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit.

The summit will bring together government and business representatives to examine new investment opportunities and areas of cooperation between India and the EFTA countries. Parmelin is expected to participate alongside delegations from the other EFTA states.

The event places private-sector engagement at the centre of the wider economic relationship and provides a platform for converting TEPA commitments into new commercial activity.

India-Switzerland Partnership Expands Beyond Trade

India and Switzerland maintain longstanding cooperation across diplomacy, business, research, education and cultural exchanges. The two countries will mark 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2028.

The current State Visit brings these strands together at a significant moment. TEPA has completed its first year, Swiss companies already have a substantial presence in India, and the two governments are expanding cooperation in science and innovation.

Parmelin’s visit marks a transition from negotiating economic frameworks to building deeper commercial and institutional links. With TEPA entering its second year and the India-EFTA Prosperity Summit providing a fresh investment platform, India-Switzerland relations are moving into a more implementation-driven phase centred on trade, technology, research and long-term economic partnership.

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References

Swiss Federal Government — Presidential Visit to India Marks First Anniversary of Free Trade Agreement, October 1, 2026.
https://www.blw.admin.ch/en/newnsb/JCmjlmrgdWi8

Press Information Bureau, Prime Minister’s Office — Prime Minister’s Meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Mr. Guy Parmelin on the Sidelines of AI Impact Summit 2026, February 19, 2026.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2230341

Ministry of External Affairs — India-Switzerland Bilateral Relations.
https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/IndiaSwissMarch2025.pdf

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