Rajasthans Minister of Industries and Commerce Col.Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Leads High-Level Delegation to Switzerland to Strengthen Economic Ties Post-European Free Trade Association(EFTA) Amid Rising Rajasthan Summit

The purpose of this high-level visit was to engage in strategic economic discussions with Swiss government officials, industry leaders, senior executives and to enhance bilateral economic ties in wake of Indo -EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). With the agenda on propositioning Rajasthan as an investment hub, bearing in mind Rising Rajasthan Summit, talks were also held with various industry officials regarding investment opportunities in Rajasthan focusing on sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals to name a few. The honourable minster was accompanied by CEO, Rajasthan Export Promotion Council,  P.R. Sharma and young entrepreneurs from Rajasthan.

 
On August 25, 2024, the delegation got a warm welcome from Marwari International Federation in Switzerland and they expressed immense optimism about strengthening Indo- Swiss relations, especially in the context of the newly signed Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).


Key Meetings and Discussions with Indian IT giant:


The delegation met Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Zurich on August 26, 2024. They were welcomed by Rainer Zahradnik (Country Manager), Sushil Premchand, Preethi Nair, and Philippe Reich. The discussions centred on fostering collaboration in industrial development, with a focus on promoting SMEs, vocational training, and labor laws. The meeting highlighted the Swiss SME landscape, where 99.7% of businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),   often   with   fewer   than   10 employees. TCS and senior delegation officials discussed potential partnerships in vocational training, via collaborations with The Tata group willing to support ITI and training initiatives. Key issues such as the ease and cost of doing business through single window clearance, and promoting tourism were also addressed.

Industry Meetings with Swiss companies


(26th August 2024): The delegation held back-to-back meetings with executives from Furrer+Frey, Schwihag, the Indo- Swiss Center, Swissmem, HEG AG Switzerland, and Swiss Food Research. Discussions     with Furrer+Frey    and Schwihag focused on opportunities in electrification and component manufacturing for rail, trams, and buses. Indo-Swiss Center and Swissmem expressed    interest in establishing centres of excellence in Rajasthan, with Swissmem emphasizing its programs for skill development        and    training for teachers.


On August 28, 2024, the delegation had a meeting with Ferring Pharmaceuticals in Saint-Prex, where the company official gave a presentation on life saving drugs to reduce maternal mortality. The delegation also toured the facility and discussed potential collaboration and investment opportunities. Executives Oleg Zhurov and Dr. Alan Harris expressed interest in exploring partnerships with Rajasthan in the pharmaceutical sector.

Meeting with Swiss Trade Promotion Organization


(27th August 2024): In the afternoon, the delegation met with representatives from Switzerland Global Enterprise (SGE), including Anja, Patrick, Deepti, and Andrew. SGE emphasized its focus on supporting SMEs and leveraging its industry association network of over 2,100 members. Discussions centred on opportunities in sectors such as food, ICT, infrastructure, biotechnology/pharmaceuticals, and the mechanical, electrical, and metalworking (MEM) industries. The delegation also explored the possibility of cooperation in climate resilience, equitable healthcare, and smart city development in India, along with disaster management initiatives.


Swiss representatives noted the necessity of educating Swiss companies about investment opportunities in India and suggested the establishment of a back-office business centre for Swiss firms.


Meeting with The Ambassador of India


The delegation also had the privilege of meeting the Indian Ambassador to Switzerland, Mr. Mridul Kumar, at his residence on 28th August, 2024. The ambassador emphasized the natural partnership between India and Switzerland and shared valuable insights into further strengthening this bilateral relationship. The ambassador also apprised the chronology of the TEPA and strategy for its fructification.


Exploring Switzerland Innovation Ecosystem


The delegation got an opportunity to explore the Switzerland Innovation Ecosystem and got to learn about its potential to integrate research and development via collaboration with academia, industry, funding bodies promoting startup and innovation services enhancing ease of doing business.


Meeting with the Swiss State Secretariat


(28th August 2024): On the final day of the visit, the delegation met with Swiss State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda, Andrea Rauber Saxer, and Regula Kienholz at the State Secretariat in Bern. The meeting was facilitated by the Consul General of India to Switzerland, Mr. Anoop Dhingra. The State Secretariat expressed enthusiasm for strengthening Indo- Swiss relations and welcomed the signing of the TEPA. Helene Budliger Artieda underscored Switzerland’s commitment to fostering collaboration with India and expressed her support for India’s vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat). Minister Rathore highlighted Rajasthan's economic growth, infrastructure development, and plans to become self-reliant in energy and water by 2027. He also proposed the creation of a single point of contact (POC) and a dedicated desk for Swiss investment in Rajasthan, along with the possibility of establishing a Swiss industrial park in the state.



Rajasthan’s Growth Story along with    cooperation    for strengthening Swiss Rajasthan economic ties highlighted by Honourable Minister of Industry & Commerce



Throughout the meetings, Honourable Minister, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore emphasized Rajasthan's strengths, including its status as India's largest state by geography, its third-largest road network, and its second- largest rail network, with one-third of the Dedicated Freight Corridor passing through the state. Rajasthan’s rich mineral and natural resources, combined with political will for development, skilled workforce, and robust demand for products, were highlighted as key factors in attracting investment. The minister also underscored Rajasthan's ambitious plans to become self-reliant in energy and water by 2027, further reinforcing the state’s attractiveness as an investment destination.

He also said that Rajasthan is willing to look into the possibilities of setting up product specific dedicated industrial zones for Swiss SMEs and appointing a dedicated government official, as single point of contact, to address Swiss investment needs in the state and spoke about investment opportunities available in the state as well as Rajasthan’s potential in attracting investments.
The visit served as a significant step towards deepening Indo-Swiss economic and trade relations, with both sides expressing optimism about the future of this partnership.