New Delhi: Swiss President Guy Parmelin on Monday held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, continuing his high-level engagements in New Delhi.
Earlier in the day, President Parmelin attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, accompanied by his wife, Caroline Parmelin.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar also called on the visiting Swiss leader. Detailing the engagement in a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Pleased to call on President Guy Parmelin @ParmelinG of the Swiss Confederation, visiting India on a State Visit. Deeply appreciate President Parmelin’s sentiments towards deepening our partnership, building on the promise of India-EFTA TEPA. Confident that his meeting with PM @narendramodi will further our engagement across a wide range of domains.”
Pleased to call on President Guy Parmelin @ParmelinG of the Swiss Confederation, visiting India on a State Visit. Deeply appreciate President Parmelin’s sentiments towards deepening our partnership, building on the promise of India - EFTA TEPA. Confident that his meeting with PM @narendramodi will further our engagement across a wide range of domains. 🇮🇳 🇨🇭
Building on the diplomatic engagements, Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin said on Monday that his visit was a “stepping stone” towards strengthening the “close and long-standing partnership” between the two countries.
Marking the formal start of his itinerary, Parmelin received an official ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was welcomed by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing the media after the welcome ceremony, Parmelin said, “The visit is an excellent opportunity to emphasise the importance that both Switzerland and India attach to this relationship.”
He said diplomatic ties between India and Switzerland were based on “shared democratic values as well as on trust and mutual respect”.
“My visit is a stepping stone towards further growth, deepening and strengthening of our close, broad and long-standing partnership. I am pleased and honoured that we have the chance to exchange views on matters of bilateral and global importance,” the Swiss president said.
“I am especially glad that my stay in India will enable us to commemorate the first anniversary of the entry into force of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, TEPA,” he added.
The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is a free trade pact between India and the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member nations: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. It was signed on March 10, 2024, and came into effect on October 1, 2025.
“It is the right moment to celebrate how far we have come together, but even more importantly, to shape our joint future,” Parmelin said.
Parmelin arrived in India on Monday for a three-day State visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. His visit focuses on strengthening bilateral cooperation in commerce, investment, scientific advancement, technological innovation, and workforce mobility.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Parmelin is travelling with a delegation of senior officials and corporate executives. It is his first state visit to India and his second visit to the country this year, following his participation in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026.
During his visit, Parmelin will also meet President Droupadi Murmu, who is scheduled to host a ceremonial banquet in his honour.
The visit comes ahead of Parmelin’s participation in the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit on October 7, marking the first anniversary of the operationalisation of TEPA.
The MEA said Switzerland is India’s primary trade and investment partner among the EFTA member states, highlighting the economic ties between the two countries and the importance of continued high-level engagement.
“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 takes place amid continued high-level engagement between New Delhi and Bern. The most recent State visit by an Indian president to Switzerland took place in 2019, while Prime Minister Modi visited Switzerland in 2016 and 2018.