India is a priority country for Switzerland in Asia. This is underscored in Switzerland’s Foreign Policy Strategy 2024-2027 that seeks to deepen relations with India on a broad basis. The relationship between the two countries has been reinforced over the years with regular high-level visits. In addition to Presidential and ministerial visits, the two countries hold yearly political and thematic consultations and dialogues. Following the State visit to India by Swiss President Mrs. Micheline Calmy Rey in November 2007, Indian President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil visited Switzerland in September 2011. Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi travelled to Switzerland on an official visit in June 2016 and on a working meeting in January 2018. Swiss President Mrs. Doris Leuthard paid a State visit to India in August/September 2017. In Autumn 2019, Switzerland hosted President Ram Nath Kovind for a State visit. Switzerland and India have been regularly conducting foreign office consultations since 2005.
Switzerland and India have signed numerous bilateral agreements encompassing several sectors including trade, development cooperation, vocational education and training, visas, migration, air traffic, investments, finance, taxation, disaster management, and cooperation in science and technology. The two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship on 14th August 1948. This was one of the first such treaties signed by independent India and an important milestone in Swiss-Indian relations. A Trade and Economic Partnership (TEPA) between the EFTA States and India was signed in March 2024.
In order to promote its interests, to facilitate easy accessibility and to render services to Indian and Swiss citizens, companies, scientific partners and cultural actors, Switzerland maintains a wide network of representations across India. Besides the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi, there are Consulates General of Switzerland in Mumbai and Bangalore, Honorary Consulates in Kolkata and Chennai, a Swiss Business Hub in Mumbai, a Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council in New Delhi, a Swissnex office in Bangalore, and a Switzerland Tourism office in Mumbai.
