India-switzerland

Where money's safest in 2025: Switzerland tops resilience Index, India lags

Henley & Partners' 2025 index ranks 226 nations on risk exposure and adaptability - with India among the weakest BRICS performers

Rudraksha seeds gain popularity in Switzerland among diaspora and locals

Once largely confined to spiritual use among Indians, Rudraksha seeds are now gaining popularity in Switzerland, with rising demand from both the diaspora and local Swiss, an official said. "It is a niche market now, set to be solidified by the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which comes into force from October 1," an official said. India and the four European nations bloc, EFTA (European Free Trade Association), signed the agreement on March 10, 2024. In 2024-25, India exported the commodity worth Rs 0.97 crore. "While Switzerland's Indian diaspora of over 27,000 people provides a foundational market for these seeds, the primary driver is a burgeoning wellness and mindfulness movement among the broader Swiss population," the official said. Swiss online retailers and yoga shops now market Rudraksha malas (prayer beads) not just as religious items, but as tools for a secular kind of spirituality. A Zurich-based online yoga store sells a simple Rudraksha

India to Switzerland: Don't preach on minorities while ignoring your own

India slammed Switzerland's remarks on minorities, offering instead to help it tackle racism, systematic discrimination, and xenophobia in the Alpine nation

India, EFTA trade pact to come into force from Oct 1: Switzerland

The free trade agreement between India and four-European nation bloc EFTA, which will come into force from October 1, will have legally binding provisions on trade and sustainable development, Switzerland said on Wednesday. "For the first time, India has laid down legally binding provisions on trade and sustainable development in a free trade agreement," it said in a statement. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The two sides signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on March 10, 2024. Under the pact, India has received an investment commitment of USD 100 billion in 15 years from the grouping while allowing several products such as Swiss watches, chocolates and cut and polished diamonds at lower or zero duties. The bloc committed an investment of USD 100 billion USD 50 billion within 10 years after the implementation of the agreement and another USD 50 billion in the next five years which would

Sika sees major growth opportunity in India amid infra, tax reforms

About 3 per cent to 4 per cent of Sika's revenue comes from India and that could grow to double digits over the next 10 years

Switzerland to exchange crypto info with India, 73 other countries

Switzerland on Friday proposed an automatic exchange of information on crypto assets with India and 73 other countries, a move likely to help track funds stashed by Indians abroad in virtual currencies. India and Switzerland already have an automatic exchange of information framework in place for bank accounts and other financial assets held by Indians in Switzerland, and vice versa. The two countries exchange this information yearly, and it has helped Indian authorities unearth many cases of undisclosed funds stashed abroad by Indians. While there are no clear-cut regulations as yet in India on cryptocurrencies, they are regulated from the perspective of anti-money laundering laws. The Reserve Bank of India has consistently maintained that it is concerned about cryptocurrencies as they can hamper financial stability, but these virtual currencies are considered legal tender in various other countries. While there are no official estimates, it is suspected that a large number of ..

India puts up big show at Davos WEF, bags Rs 20 trn investment commitments

As the five-day World Economic Forum Annual Meeting ended on Friday, Indian leaders said they could see trust for India in eyes of all global leaders and that was reflected in investment commitments totalling over Rs 20 lakh crore with Maharashtra grabbing the biggest pie of almost 80 per cent. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who led the largest ever Indian delegation of five Union ministers and several leaders from states including three chief ministers, said trust and talent are the biggest factors attracting the world to India. All states and central government departments shared space for the first time at two India Pavilions and a joint press conference was held for the first time by state and Union ministers, coming from half a dozen different parties to put up a unified 'Team India' face. "We are in Davos at a very important juncture in our global geopolitical and geo economic scenario. Despite all the disruption and all the issues the world is facing, India has emerged as a

Trust, talent attracting investors to India: Ashwini Vaishnaw at Davos

Describing 'trust and talent' as the two most important factors, senior Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said here that global companies are very enthused about India, with existing players planning to scale up and several new ones wanting to set shop in the country. The Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology said many new semiconductor players have also shown their interest while his ministry has also taken up the task of making new chipsets, which would be designed and fabricated in India and would be of use for multiple sectors. Speaking to PTI here during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Vaishnaw also said that India is set for a leadership role in the area of artificial intelligence. Asked about the biggest factor attracting investors towards India, he said, "There are multiple factors. There was a time when people used to evaluate a destination only on the basis of cost. But the first factor in any evaluation toda

Switzerland-based TIL to invest Rs 20,000 crore in Vadhvan Port project

Terminal Investment Limited Sarl (TIL) invests in, develops, and manages container terminals across the globe

MFN status suspension not to delay EFTA trade pact with India: Switzerland

The Swiss decision to suspend the most favoured nation clause in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement will not delay the ratification and implementation of the already signed trade agreement between India and the EFTA bloc, Switzerland has said. The Swiss government has suspended the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, which could potentially impact Swiss investments in India and lead to higher taxes on Indian companies operating in the European nation. India and the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed the pact, officially dubbed as TEPA (Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement), in March. Its members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The agreement is yet to be implemented. "No, the decision will not delay the ratification and implementation of EFTA-India TEPA," the Embassy of Switzerland in India has said in a response to PTI queries on the matter. It also said that this decision does not negatively affect investments from Switzerland t

Swiss MFN move won't impact $100 bn EFTA investment commitment: Barthwal

Under the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), Switzerland had reduced the withholding tax on Indian entities operating in that country to 5 per cent from 10 per cent earlier

Switzerland suspends MFN: What is the clause and its meaning for India?

Explained: What is the most favoured nation clause and why did Switzerland suspended it for India after the Nestle's 2023 Supreme Court ruling

India may renegotiate DTAA with Switzerland over EFTA trade pact: MEA

India on Friday said its double taxation treaty with Switzerland may require renegotiation in view of its trade pact with the member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The remarks by the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came after the Swiss government suspended the most favoured nation status (MFN) clause in the India-Switzerland Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). "My understanding is that with Switzerland, because of EFTA, the double taxation treaty that we have; it's going to be renegotiated. That is one aspect of it," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He was responding to a question on the issue at his weekly media briefing. India and the EFTA member states of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein sealed a free trade deal in March. Under the mega trade deal, the four European countries are looking at making an investment of USD 100 billion in India over the next 15 years. The trade pact is yet to come into force.

Nestle tax ruling fallout: Switzerland suspends MFN status to India

India signed DTCs with Lithuania and Colombia in 2011, under which it provided a withholding tax of 5 per cent to both countries

Switzerland scraps MFN status for India; dividend income to face higher tax

In a statement, Switzerland announced suspension of the application of the most favoured nation (MFN) clause of the protocol to the agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of India

Jaishankar to embark on visit to Saudi Arabia, Germany, Switzerland on Sun

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will on Sunday embark on a six-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Germany and Switzerland with a larger aim to boost overall bilateral ties and deliberate on pressing regional and global challenges. He will first travel to the Saudi capital Riyadh on a two-day trip primarily to attend the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers' meeting, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The GCC is an influential grouping comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The total volume of India's trade with GCC countries stood at USD 184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23. In Riyadh, Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of several GCC member countries. The MEA said India and the GCC enjoy a deep and multifaceted relationship, including in areas of trade and investment, energy, cultural and people-to-people ties. "The GCC region has emerged as a m

Switzerland govt submits EFTA-India trade agreement to Parliament

In 2018, after EFTA and Indonesia signed an FTA, a Swiss non-government organisation Public Eye highlighted deforestation in Indonesia for palm tree cultivation as well as the death of orangutans

'Huge potential': Piyush Goyal asks Swiss firms to invest in India

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has asked Swiss companies to invest in India as several sectors hold huge potential, an official statement said on Tuesday. The minister was on an official visit to Switzerland at the invitation of his Swiss counterpart Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin. "The two ministers had engaging and fruitful discussions with prominent Swiss and Indian captains of industry over the breakfast meeting on July 15," the commerce ministry said. He encouraged Swiss companies to become part of India's growth story and invest in its growing and dynamic market. A 12-member Indian business delegation also had networking opportunities with Swiss entrepreneurs. The key objectives of the visit were to discuss next steps for the implementation of the historic India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) which was signed on March 10. Switzerland ranks as India's 20th largest trading partner globally with bilateral trade of USD 21 billion in 2023. It

India friend of world, expect it to bring peace to Ukraine: Switzerland

India is a friend of the world and the global community expects it to contribute significantly in bringing peace to war-torn Ukraine, Swiss State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alexandre Fasel said on Friday as Switzerland prepares to host a major summit next month to end the conflict in Ukraine. Fasel held wide-ranging talks with his Indian interlocutors and extended an invitation to the Indian prime minister for participating at the summit that is aimed at charting a course for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Switzerland has extended invitations to over 160 countries for the summit to be held on June 15 and 16. "India is a friend of the world. There is really an expectation from the international community that India can contribute to this (peace) process," Fasel told PTI in an interview. "India is a friend of peace. India has a great experience in conflict transformation and peace promotion. The expectation really is that we can work together and count on India's support," he

India can reverse mkt access to EFTA if FDI commitments not met: Artieda

$100 billion FDI is a massive number. It took my breath away, said Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda