Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin arrived in the national capital on Monday to begin a State visit to India. The visit is expected to deepen the economic and diplomatic partnership between the two countries.
Parmelin was given a ceremonial Static Guard at the airport and received by Minister of State Ajay Tamta. The MEA spokesperson announced his arrival on X, calling it a “warm welcome” and saying the visit would further strengthen the India-Switzerland partnership.
Parmelin was later given a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. He is in India at Modi’s invitation, and the visit runs for three days.
This is Parmelin’s first State visit to India and his second trip to the country this year. He was last in New Delhi in February to attend the AI Impact Summit. Modi also met him in Geneva on June 16, while travelling to Evian, France, for the G7 Summit. Parmelin was elected Federal President of Switzerland for 2026 in December 2025.
Parmelin and Modi are due to hold talks on October 5, reviewing progress in bilateral ties. Murmu will host an official banquet in his honour, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will call on him. The programme will also take him beyond the capital, with a visit to Noida International Airport reported.
On October 7, Parmelin will attend the second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, which marks the first anniversary of the TEPA trade agreement.
Focus on trade and technology
The talks are expected to focus on trade, investment, technology and workforce mobility. Parmelin is travelling with a delegation of senior officials and business leaders.
The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement is central to the discussions. It came into effect in October 2025. The European Free Trade Association comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Both sides are now expected to assess how the agreement is being implemented and how it can be expanded.
The MEA has described the visit as a chance to strengthen longstanding relations and extend cooperation into new areas.
