India, Switzerland ink five pacts; open new doors for students and professionals

India and Switzerland on Monday signed a migration and mobility partnership agreement and a young professionals exchange pact, while agreeing to expand market access for Indian exports and deepen cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, infrastructure and advanced technologies following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Parmelin began his three-day state visit to India on Monday, his second trip to the country this year after attending the AI Impact Summit in February. The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions covering trade and investment, mobility, transport infrastructure, defence production, nuclear energy, science and technology, artificial intelligence and major international developments, including the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia.

Five agreements signed

The two sides signed five agreements, with mobility emerging as one of the major outcomes of the talks. The Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement is intended to facilitate legal movement between the two countries while strengthening cooperation against irregular migration and human trafficking in accordance with their respective national laws.

The arrangement provides for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years, allowing stays of up to six months during each visit, along with renewable one-year permits for students. Modi said the agreement would create new opportunities in Switzerland for Indian students, researchers and professionals while strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.

A separate agreement on the exchange of young professionals will allow people to take up temporary employment to improve their professional and language skills. The programme provides for an annual exchange of 300 young professionals from each country, with the number capable of being increased to 500.

Indian exports get push

Trade and investment formed another major part of the discussions, with Modi announcing decisions aimed at improving access for Indian products to the Swiss market. The measures are expected to support exports in sectors including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles and engineering goods.

India, in turn, is seeking additional Swiss investment in biotechnology, life sciences, banking, insurance, food processing and sustainability. Modi said the objective was to create trusted supply chains and reliable solutions capable of serving markets beyond the two countries.

Switzerland is already an important European economic partner for India. More than 330 Swiss companies operate in India across engineering, services, precision instruments, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, while Indian businesses have established a presence in Switzerland in sectors including information technology, pharmaceuticals and machinery.

TEPA takes centre stage

The economic push comes against the backdrop of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association states of Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. The agreement came into force in October and is expected to provide a wider framework for investment and trade between India and the four European countries.

Modi described TEPA as an “ambitious blueprint” for investment, innovation, employment and shared prosperity. He said the partnership was intended to help realise the target of $100 billion in investment and one million direct jobs in India over the next 15 years.

Parmelin said the agreement offered advantages to both economies, giving India greater access to capital, technology and markets for higher-value products while providing Swiss businesses with greater access to a large and expanding economy at a time of increasing uncertainty in global trade.

Investment pact next

Switzerland is also seeking an early conclusion of a bilateral investment protection agreement with India. Parmelin said such an agreement could further stimulate investment flows and stressed the importance of progress in discussions concerning intellectual property protection.

The Swiss President is accompanied by a large delegation of senior business leaders, underlining the commercial focus of the visit. The two countries are also looking to the India-EFTA Prosperity Summit on Wednesday as a platform to convert the commitments under their trade and investment framework into specific projects and partnerships.

Defence, nuclear ties expand

Strategic and technological cooperation also featured prominently in the talks. Modi said India and Switzerland had identified new possibilities for military exchanges and defence production and agreed to further deepen their cooperation in nuclear energy.

While Switzerland is traditionally associated with neutrality, its advanced manufacturing, precision engineering and technology capabilities offer potential areas of cooperation with India’s expanding defence manufacturing sector. The two sides are looking at opportunities that combine industrial capabilities with research and technological collaboration.

Science and technology will form another important pillar, with new joint research projects planned in health, clean energy and space. The two leaders also discussed artificial intelligence and the need for an approach to AI governance that encourages innovation while remaining inclusive and equitable.

Infrastructure partnership

India and Switzerland also signed an agreement to expand collaboration in transport technologies, mobility systems and infrastructure development. Modi invited Swiss infrastructure companies to invest more extensively in India and participate in capacity building, design and manufacturing.

The Prime Minister cited the ropeway project in Varanasi, Noida’s Jewar airport and railway and tunnelling projects in mountainous regions as examples of existing infrastructure cooperation involving Swiss expertise.

The focus on transportation and infrastructure reflects Switzerland’s strengths in areas such as railways, tunnelling, engineering, urban mobility and mountain transport, while India’s large infrastructure programme offers substantial opportunities for international technology and investment partnerships.

Ukraine, West Asia discussed

International developments also figured in the talks, particularly the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. Modi said India and Switzerland supported meaningful efforts towards peace and shared a commitment to dialogue and diplomacy.

The Prime Minister said both countries believed in democratic values and the rule of law and would continue working towards global peace and stability. He also called for reforms of global institutions to enable them to respond more effectively to contemporary challenges.

Parmelin said India and Switzerland shared fundamental democratic values and emphasised the importance of cooperation in an increasingly unpredictable international environment.

AI cooperation grows

Artificial intelligence has emerged as another area of growing engagement. Parmelin had visited India earlier this year for the AI Impact Summit, and the two sides discussed ways of promoting AI governance that balances technological innovation with fairness and inclusion.

Switzerland is scheduled to host the Geneva AI Summit next year, and Modi extended his wishes for the event. He said the two countries could continue working together towards making artificial intelligence responsible, inclusive and human-centric.

The agreements signed during Parmelin’s visit broaden a relationship traditionally centred on commerce and technology into areas ranging from skilled mobility and advanced infrastructure to defence, nuclear energy and AI. The immediate focus will now shift to implementation, particularly the mobility arrangements and investment commitments that could give Indian professionals and businesses greater access to Switzerland while bringing additional Swiss capital and technology into India.