Visit will focus on trade, investment, technology, innovation and mobility, with Parmelin set to attend the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit
New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin arrived in India on Monday for a three-day State visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the visit expected to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, science, technology, innovation and mobility.
The visit, scheduled from October 5 to 7, is Parmelin’s first State visit to India and his second trip to the country this year. He had earlier visited New Delhi in February 2026 to participate in the AI Impact Summit.
Parmelin is being accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior Swiss officials and business leaders, reflecting the strong economic dimension of his India visit. During his stay, he is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Modi on Monday to review progress in bilateral cooperation across several areas.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the discussions between Modi and Parmelin will cover trade and investment, science and technology, innovation, mobility, culture and people-to-people contacts.
The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and global developments, including cooperation through multilateral forums.
The MEA said the talks would provide an opportunity to review the progress made in existing areas of cooperation while exploring new avenues of partnership between India and Switzerland.
During the State visit, Parmelin will also meet President Droupadi Murmu, who will host an official banquet in his honour. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is also scheduled to call on the Swiss President.
A key component of Parmelin’s visit will be his participation in the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit on October 7. The summit will coincide with the first anniversary of the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) coming into force.
The agreement has added significance to India’s economic engagement with EFTA members — Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein — and is expected to provide a framework for expanding trade and investment ties.
The MEA has described Switzerland as an important economic partner for India, noting that among the EFTA countries, Switzerland is India’s largest trade and investment partner.
The Swiss President’s visit also comes against the backdrop of longstanding diplomatic relations between the two countries and regular high-level exchanges.
“India and Switzerland share longstanding friendly relations. This visit will further strengthen bilateral relations, building upon the regular high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation in new areas of mutual interest,” the MEA said.
The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to advance cooperation in emerging sectors, particularly science, technology and innovation, while also strengthening economic and people-to-people ties.
India and Switzerland have maintained close engagement across diplomatic, economic and cultural spheres. Prime Minister Modi paid official visits to Switzerland in 2016 and 2018, while the last State visit by an Indian President to Switzerland took place in 2019.
Against this backdrop, Parmelin’s three-day visit is expected to reinforce the momentum in bilateral relations and provide fresh impetus to cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
