President Droupadi Murmu Hosts Swiss President Guy Parmelin to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, welcomed His Excellency Mr. Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 5, 2026. On this occasion, President Murmu also hosted a dinner in his honor.

President Murmu stated that India and Switzerland share friendly relations based on common values such as democracy and the rule of law. She highlighted the extensive cooperation between the two nations across various sectors, including trade, investment, science, technology, innovation, culture, and people-to-people ties. The President noted that regular high-level exchanges have provided continuous momentum to the bilateral relationship.

Discussing trade relations, the President described Switzerland as an important partner for India. She mentioned that the implementation of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) now provides greater opportunities for the expansion of bilateral trade and investment. The President appreciated the significant investments made by Swiss companies in India's infrastructure sector, particularly in the construction of roads, railways, bridges, and tunnels. Furthermore, she suggested that Swiss companies explore opportunities in emerging fields such as clean and green technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The President expressed satisfaction over the important agreements signed during this visit to promote cooperation in migration and mobility, research, and technology transfer. Both leaders agreed that close collaboration between India and Switzerland would bring extensive benefits to the people of both countries and that this visit would contribute to further strengthening their relations.