On 10th March 2024, ‘India & European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)’ was signed in New Delhi, India. Apart from tariff reduction and exemption, TEPA facilitates technology collaboration and access to world leading technologies in precision engineering, health sciences, renewable energy, Innovation and R&D. India-EFTA TEPA also provides an opportunity to integrate into EU markets as over 40% of Switzerland’s global services exports are to the EU. Indian companies can look to Switzerland as a base for extending its market reach to EU.
2. To understand the Swiss business landscape and to facilitate their plans to enter into the Indian market, and to promote & publicize the rising opportunities in India post signing TEPA, Mission organised a Seminar on 'Opportunities in India: Post India-EFTA TEPA' in collaboration with NICDC, ASSOCHAM and Invest India at The Circle Convention Center, Zurich Airport, on 21 March 2025. The event marked the first anniversary of the signing of the India-EFTA TEPA.
3. The seminar witnessed enthusiastic participation from Indian and Swiss stake-holders invited, Government agencies, trade & investment promotion organizations, Swiss industry associations (Swissrail, Swissmem, Swiss Fintech Association (SFTA) and Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and several Swiss SMEs contributed to its impactful success.
4. Ambassador Sh. Mridul Kumar in his opening address shared a glimpse of fast-growing Indian economy, flagship Government of India schemes, industry focused incentives and welcoming business environment in India. Ambassador encouraged entrepreneurs to harness benefits of TEPA - the ‘First of its Kind’ FTA and invited Swiss SMEs to seize the opportunity to enter, invest & expand in India.
5. CEO & MD, National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (NICDC), Mr. Rajat Kr Saini participated in Seminar in VC mode. He made a presentation on “Investment Opportunities Under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme” with a comprehensive briefing on Industrial Corridors and Smart Cities in various Indian States with plug-n-play infrastructure, multimodal connectivity & complete hand holding support for investors. He also assured a smooth & hassle-free experience of doing business to the Swiss SMEs, offering partnership opportunities to Companies operating in infrastructure, development and supporting technologies.
6. Ms. Nivruti Rai CEO & MD, Invest India in her video message at the Seminar spoke of robust India-Swiss trade & investment partnership of over 7 decades. Representatives from Invest India made a presentation on “Leveraging India's Ecosystem, What Does Each Region in India Offer” and highlighted an over-view of business climate in India articulating incentives, subsidies, duty exemptions and support services provided by Government of India and States to assist foreign investors.
7. In his inspiring keynote address, Mr. Aditya Yellepeddi, Member and Former President of Legislative Council in Chavornay, Switzerland, underlined the incredible enthusiasm that TEPA has sparked in Switzerland. He attributed swift approval by Swiss Parliament and launch of the EFTA Desk in India, to the strong, respectful bond shared between India and Switzerland. He also emphasized on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for investors and Swiss SMEs in India.
8. Mr. Sanjay Nayar, President, ASSOCHAM also addressed the participants. ASSOCHAM representative, Mr. Koushik Bhattacharyya, MD and Head, Avendous made a presentation on ‘India-EFTA opportunities and challenges: Exploring trade and investment prospects’ and highlighted India's compelling growth story with a vast trade potential with Europe and Switzerland.
9. Two Swiss companies namely Blaser Swisslube and Geobrugg AG shared their India operation success story. Mr. Marc Blaser, CEO, Blaser Swisslube recalled their start in India in 1998 and how the company at present is serving more than 1000 customers in India including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Mahindra, Sundaram Fasteners and many more large, medium and mall customers through its Country Competence Center (CCC- IN) and headquarter located in Gurugram. Also representative from Geobrugg AG, highlighted the success of its strategic decision to enter and expand into the Indian Market ‘one of the largest growing markets in the world’ in 2012. He also added that when the production facility was set up in 2023, as per company’s contingency plan for the leased space, Geobrugg was to sublet part its space, if the demand did not meet production capacity. However, in 2025, the company is pursuing additional space to keep up with the increased demand due to a higher market share cornered due to the ability to provide Swiss standard systems at Indian competitive prices.
10. In addition to the success stories shared by Swiss companies, the following prominent Swiss Industry associations engaged with the Indian business delegation during an interactive Q&As round followed by their presentations:
i. ‘Swissrail and India’, Mr. Andreas Haas, MD, Swissrail
ii. “EFTA-India Free Trade Agreement”, Mr. Raoul Keller, Secretary General, Swissmem
iii. Presentation by Swiss Fintech Association (SFTA), Mr. Philip J. Weights, Co-President, SFTA
11. The Seminar was successfully concluded with net-working sessions where the Indian business delegation led by ASSOCHAM had an engaging interaction with Swiss companies’ representatives and associations.
12. Some of the photos of the Seminar on 'Opportunities in India: Post India-EFTA TEPA' organised by Embassy of India, Berne in collaboration with NICDC, ASSOCHAM and Invest India at The Circle Convention Center, Zurich Airport, on 21 March 2025, are placed below:
