The two countries also discussed ways of increasing collaboration in new and emerging sectors of digitisation, AI, and Quantum.
India and Switzerland held the 13th round of Foreign Office Consultations and reviewed the entire gamut of India-Switzerland bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and regional and global matters of mutual interest.

Held on Thursday in New Delhi, the two sides, during their Foreign Office Consultations, conducted discussion over the progress in diverse sectors, including trade and investment, the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), innovation and sustainability, air services, and technological advancements in mobility.

Both sides explored opportunities to enhance collaboration in emerging areas such as digitization, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Quantum technologies.

They welcomed the impact of the India-Swiss Innovation Platform to strengthen S&T ties by harnessing innovation capacity to develop the startup ecosystem of the two countries.

They also discussed the recent opening of an EFTA dedicated desk at Invest India in New Delhi and highlighted its significance for implementation and operationalization of the TEPA.

Recognising the positive outcomes of the MoU on ‘Technical cooperation in the field of Climate Change and Environment’ signed in 2019, the two sides looked forward to an early renewal of the MoU.

At the Foreign Office Consultations, while the Indian delegation was led by Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, the Swiss side was headed by Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.