International News

India–Switzerland Strategic Partnership

October 11 , 2026 8 hrs 0 min 32 0

The President of the Swiss Confederation held bilateral talks with the Indian Prime Minister in New Delhi in October 2026, marking the first anniversary of the India–European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
India and Switzerland agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, defence, civilian nuclear energy, infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI).
The Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) and Exchange of Young Professionals (YPS) agreements aim to promote legal migration, skill development and professional exchanges.
The India–EFTA TEPA, implemented in October 2025, includes an investment commitment of USD 100 billion and one million direct jobs in India over 15 years.
EFTA has four members: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein; India and Switzerland also cooperate in science and research through the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).
Key challenges include the trade imbalance, lack of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), pharmaceutical patent concerns under Section 3(d) of India’s Patents Act, 1970, and implementation of the investment commitment.