Swiss President Guy Parmelin To Visit India From October 5-7, Hold Talks With PM Modi
Parmelin’s state visit will focus on bilateral cooperation and trade.
Switzerland’s President Guy Parmelin will undertake a State Visit to India from October 5 to 7 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with bilateral cooperation, trade and investment expected to feature prominently in the talks. Parmelin and Modi are scheduled to hold discussions on October 5 to review progress across several areas, including science, technology and innovation, mobility, culture and people-to-people contacts. The two leaders will also 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. Parmelin will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior officials and business leaders. The visit will be his first State Visit to India and his second visit to the country this year, following his participation in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February.
A key part of the visit will be Parmelin’s participation in the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit on October 7. The summit will mark the first anniversary of the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement coming into force. The Ministry of External Affairs has said the visit has added significance in this context, noting that Switzerland is India’s largest trade and investment partner among the EFTA countries.
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The upcoming meetings follow several recent high-level engagements between India and Switzerland. In June, Parmelin welcomed Prime Minister Modi at Geneva airport as the Indian leader travelled onward to Evian, France, for the G7 Summit. According to the MEA, the two leaders exchanged greetings and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. India and Switzerland have also maintained institutional mechanisms covering areas such as economic cooperation, science and technology, finance and other bilateral matters.
The visit comes as both countries continue to expand cooperation following the signing of the India-EFTA TEPA in 2024. The agreement covers the broader economic relationship between India and the EFTA bloc, which comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Bilateral engagement has also included cooperation in science and innovation, climate and environment, railways and financial matters, alongside regular diplomatic consultations.
The Swiss President’s October 5-7 visit is therefore expected to provide an opportunity for the two sides to review ongoing cooperation and discuss areas for further engagement. The scheduled talks between Modi and Parmelin, along with the India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, will bring political and economic aspects of the relationship together during the three-day visit.
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