Minister engaged extensively with Swiss industry leaders
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called for advancing India–Switzerland economic cooperation and operationalising the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) signed earlier this year between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) https://www.commerce.gov.in/.
He also discussed regulatory cooperation, skills development, innovation partnerships, and mechanisms to facilitate faster investment decision-making https://www.investindia.gov.in/.
During the two-day visit 9-10 June, Goyal held productive meetings with top leadership from the Swiss government and industry, aimed at reinforcing strategic synergies and unlocking new avenues for trade, investment, and innovation-led growth https://www.bseindia.com/.
He met with Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), and State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda to chart a forward-looking roadmap for TEPA implementation https://www.nseindia.com/.
The Minister engaged extensively with Swiss industry leaders across sectors including biotech and pharma, healthcare, precision engineering, defence, and emerging technologies https://www.sihk.ch/.
In his sectoral roundtables and bilateral meetings, Goyal highlighted India’s growing economic strength, policy stability, and the government’s commitment to creating a conducive and facilitative ecosystem for global investors https://sbi.com.in/.
Swiss companies have welcomed India’s ambitious infrastructure expansion, technology-driven governance, and expanding domestic consumption base, viewing India as both a growth destination and a global manufacturing hub.
A major highlight of the visit was Goyal’s participation in the 18th Swissmem Industry Day held in Zurich on 10 June, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
He was warmly received by delegates and senior members of Swissmem, the apex association representing Switzerland’s Mechanical, Electrical, and Metal (MEM) industries https://www.swisscham.asia/.
The event, attended by over 1,000 participants from across Europe, featured discussions on industrial innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness—areas where India and Switzerland are seen as natural partners.
In his keynote address, Goyal invited Swiss companies, including SMEs and deep-tech innovators, to scale up investments in India by leveraging the new trade architecture offered by TEPA.
He spoke about India’s demographic dividend, globally recognised engineering talent, and robust supply chains, encouraging Swiss industry to anchor R&D, establish local manufacturing bases, and co-create technologies for the Global South.
Referring to TEPA as a “Trust and Efficiency Partnership Agreement,” he emphasized the spirit of complementarity between India and Switzerland and the unique value they can jointly offer to global markets.
An immediate standout outcome of this was the swift resolution of a facilitation request by Endress+Hauser, a global process automation company with a growing presence in India.
During discussions, the company raised the issue of land parcel availability near their existing facility in Maharashtra. Within hours, the matter was resolved through coordinated efforts by Goyal and Indian authorities, demonstrating the Indian Government commitment to fast-tracking investor concerns and ensuring a seamless business environment. The resolution was hailed by industry members as a model for responsive governance https://fieo.org/.
Goyal also held several one-on-one meetings with Swiss companies expressing interest in India. These included discussions on expansion strategies, setting up new R&D centres, deepening localisation, talent development, and building robust MSME linkages.
Many companies conveyed their intent to use India not only as a domestic market but also as a global manufacturing and export base. Interest was particularly strong in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, industrial automation, clean technology, and healthcare innovation.
Throughout his engagements, the Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation from Indian industry associations such as ASSOCHAM, CII, and FICCI, further underscoring India’s whole-of-government and whole-of-industry approach to economic diplomacy.
The visit concluded on a note of shared optimism and mutual commitment to scale up the India–Switzerland partnership. Swiss stakeholders across sectors reaffirmed their confidence in India’s rise as a global economic powerhouse and welcomed the Government of India’s collaborative and reform-oriented approach.
As India charts its journey toward becoming a US$5 trillion economy, this visit has set the tone for accelerated collaboration with innovation-driven, trusted partners like Switzerland.
With TEPA as a new enabler, both countries are well poised to unlock high-impact opportunities in trade, investment, and knowledge partnerships. Fiinews.com
