Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bhutan

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The Swiss Embassy in New Delhi is also representing Switzerland in Bhutan. Swiss Ambassador Dr. Linus von Castelmur presented his credentials to the King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on April 24, 2013. The presentation of credential ceremony was held at Tashichho Dzong in Thimphu. During an audience with the King following the credential ceremony the Swiss Ambassador discussed various bilateral issues with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Since the end of 1950s Switzerland has been active in Bhutan through its development assistance initiatives in the area of rural development and agriculture. More recently Switzerland has shifted its focus to the area of good governance and decentralization in order to support the democratization process in Bhutan.

A new Capacity Building Programme on Himalayan Glaciology was inaugurated on 02 April 2013 at Jawaharlal Nehru University in the presence of Swiss Ambassador Dr. Linus von Castelmur and Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. The Capacity Building Programme will contribute towards strengthening of institutional and human capacities in the field of glaciology and related areas.
The Capacity Building Programme on Himalayan Glaciology is conceptualized and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) on behalf of Government of Switzerland and the Climate Change Programme of Department of Science and Technology (DST) on behalf of the Government of India. It is framed within the agreement between the two countries for the promotion of bilateral cooperation in Science and Technology.

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The activities around the week of the Francophonie 2013 culminated with fanfare and Indian classical music at the Embassy of Switzerland on 30th March 2013. La Sirène, Harmonie Municipale du Grand-Saconnex, Genève, was established around the end of the 19th century in Geneva. The band consists of amateur musicians who play a contemporary and modern music repertoire on wind instruments like the clarinet, trombone and the trumpet. The musicians played on the lawns of the Swiss residence before a crowd of more than 300. This musical contribution from Switzerland was succeeded with the performance of one of the most promising flautists of India, Pt. Paras Nath and his band including Mridangam, Violin, Tabla and the Sitar. Paras Nath belongs to the traditional family of flautists and is trained since early childhood in the art of Hindustani classical music. Son and disciple of Pandit Amar Nath, he has performed widely in India and abroad, and has worked with international artists. All the guests and the musicians were welcomed warmly by the hosts of the evening H.E. Dr. Linus von Castelmur, Ambassador of Switzerland to India and Bhutan and Madame Françoise Gardies. A truly mesmerizing evening!

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Frama India launched their products at the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi on March 21, 2013. The event was marked by a well-attended press conference which was inaugurated by the Ambassador, H.E. Linus von Castelmur, and followed by a statement from the Group CEO, Mr. Thomas P. Haug. The Q&A session allowed all present to have a better understanding of Frama’s long-term goals and plans regarding the Indian market.

The dinner reception that evening, in the garden of the Embassy and attended by over a hundred people, was hosted by Ambassador von Castelmur. The Ambassador welcomed everyone and in his speech also outlined the importance of Swiss SMEs such as Frama. This was followed by Mr. Haug’s speech underlining Frama’s philosophy, ideals and expectations.

This formal address was closed with a short speech from the Executive Director of Frama India. There was a dramatic unveiling of the Frama product range on a stage that was quite eye-catching; everyone appreciated the fact that the entire Frama product range was on display.

The launch event was organized by Mr. Pascal Roesselet, Vice President Marketing & Sales Asia and the delicious Swiss buffet was organized by Mr. Michael Ryter, a chef from Switzerland. Each guest at the event left with a very positive impression, a big bag full of gifts and high in spirits!

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The first Soirée littéraire, an evening of francophone literary encounters was held on 20 March 2013 at the Embassy of Switzerland, New Delhi. Jointly presented by the Embassy of Switzerland, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Embassy of France/Institut Français en Inde and Pro Helvetia-Swiss Arts Council, the literary event was attended by academics and students from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Amity University, Jamia Milia Islamia as well as members from the Indian publishing fraternity and the general public. The evening was hosted by H.E. Dr Linus von Castelmur, Ambassador of Switzerland to India and Bhutan in the lawns of the embassy and in the presence of H.E. François Richier, Ambassador of France in India.

With the aim to build audiences for contemporary writing in French, the event included readings from the original texts by Nicolas Ancion from Belgium, David Collin from Switzerland and Chowra Makaremi from France, whose sessions were moderated by Prof Vijaya Rao, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Annie Mathews, translator, journalist and film production manager, and Renuka George, translator and documentary filmmaker, respectively.
 Ambassador’s speech (pdf, 288 Kb);  More photographs

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To mark the 150th anniversary of the International Committee of the Red Cross founded in 1863, Geneva, the Ambassador of Switzerland Dr. Linus von Castelmur and Mr. Yves Daccord, Director General of ICRC inaugurated a photo exhibition “150 years of Humanitarian Aid” at the Embassy of Switzerland, New Delhi on 14th March 2013.
 More photographs;  Ambassador's speech

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On occasion of opening of the 5th India Art Fair, the Ambassador of Switzerland H.E. Dr. Linus von Castelmur and Madame Françoise Gardies hosted a late night cocktail reception at the Swiss residence on 30th January 2013. Hosted in collaboration with Pro Helvetia - Swiss Arts Council and Take on Art Magazine the evening celebrated the participation of Swiss artists at the Video Lounge at the India Art Fair and the launch of the special issue on sculpture of the 'Take on Art Magazine'. 

The reception which was attended by over 300 guests, marked the beginning of several events that the Embassy plans this year around the theme of architecture in commemoration of 50 years of the Embassy building, designed and planned by the Swiss architect Hans Hofmann. During the occasion, the 50 year old Embassy building and its inner facade stood out with its modernist feel. As the evening warmed up to the presence of several artists, curators, gallerists who are in the Delhi for the Art Fair, works of Akshay Raj Singh Rathore, Shreyas Karle, Alexander Hahn, Iram Ghufran, Pipilotti Rist, Elodie Pong, Ingo Giezendanner and Cat Tuong Ngyuen, mentored by the Swiss Arts Council stood symbolically as Switzerland’s participation at the Art Fair. 

The young musician Ilyas Khan Kawa from Jaipur impressed his rhythmic prowess while presenting a blend of the Tablas and the Human beat box. The celebrated Swiss jazz musician Hans Koch together with Ish Sherawat made the evening lively with a fusion presentation of contemporary jazz and electronic music. The Swiss participation at the video lounge of the India Art Fair has been supported by Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council. 
 More Photographs;  Ambassador's Speech

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The Embassy of Switzerland in India brings together in the form of a calendar inspiring works of children from different schools. These have been shortlisted from hundreds of entries. 'India-Switzerland Friendship' is the theme across the artworks.  Enjoy the innocent world of children as you click through the months...

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H.E. Dr. Linus von Castelmur, Ambassador of Switzerland conferring ‘Swiss Ambassador’s Award 2012- For Exceptional Innovation’ to Mr. Glenn Saldanha, Chairman and Managing Director, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. on November 29, 2012 in New Delhi. The award recognizes Mr. Saldanha's novel drug discovery research for global unmet medical needs, knowledge sharing and business ties between India and Switzerland.
 More photographs