Swiss President's State Visit: India and Switzerland Sign Migration and Mobility Pact, Push TEPA Trade and Investment
Swiss President Guy Parmelin began a state visit to India (5 to 7 October 2026), his first state visit and his second trip to India this year (he came for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026). Talks were held at Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
The two countries signed five agreements: a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, an agreement on exchange of young professionals, cooperation in transport technologies and infrastructure, a Letter of Intent on science research (Swiss National Science Foundation and India's Department of Science and Technology), and an arrangement on technology transfer.
Both sides decided to widen Swiss market access for Indian exports (agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods) and to attract Swiss investment in biotech, life sciences, banking, insurance, food processing and sustainability.
The talks built on the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), in force since 1 October 2025, which carries a goal of $100 billion investment and 1 million direct jobs in India over 15 years. The second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit was set for 7 October 2026.
The sides also agreed to deepen cooperation in nuclear energy and found new possibilities in military exchanges and defence production. New joint research projects in health, clean energy and space are planned.
More than 330 Swiss companies operate in India. Switzerland will host the next AI Summit in Geneva in 2027.
India-Switzerland Relations
India and Switzerland are friendly partners whose ties rest on democracy, the rule of law and a shared habit of staying away from military blocs: India through non-alignment and later strategic autonomy, Switzerland through permanent neutrality. Switzerland is a small, rich European country that is not in the European Union. It matters to India as a source of advanced technology, high-value investment and, through the India-EFTA TEPA, India's first free trade agreement with European countries.
President Parmelin's state visit turned the TEPA framework into concrete steps: market access for Indian goods, five new agreements including migration and young professionals, and new areas like defence and nuclear energy. It shows the relationship moving from mainly trade and gold to technology, skills and investment.
India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)
The India-EFTA TEPA is a trade deal between India and the four countries of the European Free Trade Association: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Both sides cut import duties on each other's goods and open up some services. What makes it unique is a binding promise of investment and jobs in India, the first of its kind in any Indian trade agreement.
The state visit and the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit (7 October 2026) mark the first anniversary of TEPA coming into force. Both sides agreed on steps to widen market access for Indian goods in Switzerland and to speed up Swiss investment, which is the core of TEPA's promise.
Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs)
A Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement is a deal between two countries about the movement of people. It makes it easier for students, researchers, skilled workers and young professionals to go and work legally, and it includes a promise to cooperate against irregular (illegal) migration, including taking back people who have no right to stay. India signs such agreements to open safe, legal job paths for its young workforce.
Switzerland has now joined India's list of mobility partners. Together with a separate young professionals agreement, the new pact is expected to open new opportunities in Switzerland for Indian students, researchers and professionals.
- Swiss President Guy Parmelin: state visit to India 5 to 7 October 2026 (earlier visit: AI Impact Summit, February 2026)
- Five agreements signed: migration and mobility partnership, exchange of young professionals, transport technologies and infrastructure, science research Letter of Intent (SNSF and DST), technology transfer arrangement
- India-EFTA TEPA: signed 10 March 2024, in force 1 October 2025; $100 billion investment and 1 million direct jobs over 15 years
- Second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit: 7 October 2026
- 330+ Swiss companies operate in India
- India-Switzerland trade FY 2024-25: $23.27 billion (15th largest partner)
- Treaty of Friendship: 14 August 1948
- Next AI Summit: Geneva, 2027
- EFTA members: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland