New Delhi, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Swiss President Guy Parmelin on October 5 at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The two leaders exchanged warm greetings before commencing bilateral discussions.
The meeting focused on reviewing progress in various areas of cooperation, including trade, investment, science, technology, innovation, mobility, and people-to-people connections between the two nations.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Modi and Parmelin also exchanged views on regional and global developments. They discussed ways to enhance collaboration between India and Switzerland on multilateral platforms.
President Parmelin’s visit coincides with the first anniversary of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). He noted that this visit offers an opportunity to strengthen economic ties in light of the agreement’s anniversary.
Speaking to reporters after a formal welcome ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parmelin emphasized that the visit highlights the importance both countries place on their relationship. He stated that the partnership is built on shared democratic values, trust, and mutual respect. Parmelin described his trip as a significant step towards furthering the longstanding and comprehensive partnership between India and Switzerland.
He expressed his enthusiasm for discussing bilateral and global issues during the visit, particularly referencing the first anniversary of the India-EFTA TEPA.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met with President Parmelin. Jaishankar appreciated the Swiss President‘s commitment to deepening ties between the two nations and expressed confidence that their meeting would accelerate cooperation across various sectors.
Jaishankar shared on social media, “It was a pleasure to meet Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who is on a state visit to India. I deeply appreciate his thoughts on advancing our partnership while exploring the potential of the India-EFTA TEPA.”
The formal welcome for Parmelin at Rashtrapati Bhavan included warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi.
Parmelin arrived in India for a three-day state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. This marks his first official visit to India since taking office, and it is his second trip to the country this year, having previously attended the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026.
Accompanying Parmelin is a high-level delegation of senior officials and business leaders, focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, science, technology, innovation, and mobility.
During his visit, President Parmelin is also scheduled to meet with President Droupadi Murmu, who will host a state banquet in his honor.
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the longstanding friendly relations between India and Switzerland, noting that regular high-level contacts have played a crucial role in advancing bilateral ties.
According to the ministry, Switzerland is India’s largest trade and investment partner among EFTA countries, making Parmelin’s trip significant for enhancing economic relations as well as collaboration in science, technology, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges.
The visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations and provide opportunities to deepen cooperation in new areas of mutual interest.
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