India and Switzerland are set to deepen their bilateral relationship, with the cooperation expanding beyond the traditional economic engagement into the defence, the nuclear energy, the research, the migration and the mobility. The development came during the visit of the Swiss President Mr. Guy Parmelin to India, where he met the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The two leaders also discussed the new opportunities for the cooperation and signed several agreements that are aimed at strengthening the ties between the two countries.
One of the key areas highlighted during the meeting was the defence cooperation. The Prime Minister Modi said that India and the Switzerland had identified new opportunities for the military exchanges and the defence production. Both the sides also agreed to further deepen the cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. These areas are particularly significant as India continues to focus on strengthening its defence capabilities and expanding its energy options.
The visit also marked an important stage in the economic relationship between the two countries. Mrm Parmelin was in India to commemorate the first anniversary of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The agreement came into force on October 1, 2025, and is expected to encourage the greater trade and investment partnerships between the India and the EFTA countries, including the Switzerland.
The Switzerland has also expressed its interest in increasing its investments in India. According to the information shared during the meeting, the Swiss companies are expected to explore the opportunities in the areas such as the capacity building, the design and the manufacturing. Mr. Parmelin was accompanied by a large Swiss business delegation, which highlights the importance of the private-sector cooperation in the growing bilateral relationship.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi also emphasised that the two countries should continue to stimulate the investment and to work towards concluding an investment agreement. The Switzerland, meanwhile, hopes that the discussions on such an agreement can move forward in a swift way. The intellectual property protection was also identified as an important issue in strengthening the economic cooperation.
Another important area of cooperation is the migration and the mobility. The India and the Switzerland signed an agreement that is designed to promote the migration and the mobility while ensuring the equal treatment and the preventing irregular migration and the exploitation. The agreement provides for the multiple-entry visas for up to five years, with the stays of up to six months during each visit. It also includes the provisions for the one-year permits for the students.
The two countries also agreed to strengthen the opportunities for the young professionals. Under the agreement on the exchange of professionals, the young people can undertake the temporary employment in the other country to improve their professional and the language skills. The arrangement includes an annual exchange of 300 people, with the possibility of further increasing the number to 500.
The education, the science and the research were the major focus areas. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) of India and the National Science Foundation of Switzerland signed a Letter of Intent to promote the long-term cooperation between the researchers and the scientific communities in both the countries. Such collaboration could encourage the joint research and development, the innovation and the exchange of knowledge.
The agreements signed during the visit reflect the growing diversity of the relationship between the India and the Switzerland . While the trade and the investment remain central, the partnership is also covering the defence, the nuclear energy, the science and technology, the education, the employment and the mobility, thereby deepening the bilateral relationship.
The latest developments suggest that India and Switzerland are seeking a broader and a more practical partnership. By encouraging the investment, facilitating the professional exchanges, supporting the scientific cooperation and exploring the opportunities in the defence and the nuclear energy, both the countries are looking to build stronger links across multiple sectors.
The relationship is therefore moving beyond the conventional economic cooperation towards a more comprehensive partnership. With the political dialogue, the business engagement and the institutional agreements supporting the process, the India and the Switzerland are committed to creating new opportunities for the bilateral cooperation in the years ahead.
