India and Switzerland announced five bilateral cooperation instruments covering migration, young professionals, transport infrastructure, scientific research and startup development during Swiss President Guy Parmelin’s State visit to India on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging discussions with Parmelin at Hyderabad House, reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral relations and ways to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, innovation and artificial intelligence, military exchanges and defence production, nuclear energy, science and technology, and people-to-people ties.
The leaders noted the positive momentum generated by the India–European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing an innovation-led partnership.
A Memorandum of Understanding on Migration and Mobility Partnership aims to develop cooperation based on equal treatment principles and prevent and combat irregular migration, human exploitation and trafficking in accordance with national laws.
The MoU provides for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years, allowing stays of up to six months on each visit, as well as renewable one-year student permits.
An Agreement on the Exchange of Young Professionals will govern temporary employment opportunities in the other country, enabling participants to improve professional and language skills within their fields.
The agreement provides for the exchange of 300 young professionals annually from each country, with the possibility of increasing the number to 500. It also includes timelines of 30 and 90 days for verification of nationality or residency status, among other provisions.
In transport, India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Switzerland’s Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research concluded an MoU on transportation technologies, mobility systems and infrastructure in identified areas.
The framework aims to promote sustainable infrastructure development through collaboration in electric vehicles, ropeways, the circular economy, tunnels and other transport sectors.
A Letter of Intent between India’s Department of Science and Technology and the Swiss National Science Foundation seeks to strengthen long-term cooperation between the two countries’ research communities.
It will support exploratory scientific collaboration, develop partnerships for future joint research and establish a broader framework for sustained initiatives in mutually agreed priority areas.
An Implementation Arrangement between the Department of Science and Technology and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences will establish cooperation in innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
The arrangement will implement the Indo–Swiss Academia–Industry Training programme, known as AIT India, for early-stage startups through bilateral exchanges, joint workshops, capability building and networking.
The outcomes also included an announcement concerning the inaugural session of the Indo-Swiss Research Flagship event in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology. New joint research in health, clean energy and space featured among the key areas of cooperation.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to peace, diplomacy and reform of global institutions.
