Embassy of India

in Switzerland and The Principality of Liechtenstein

Good Evening Everybody; Hon’ble Member of Swiss Parliament Mr. Nik Gugger, Distinguished guests, Members of the Indian Diaspora in Switzerland; Friends of India; Ladies & Gentlemen,

Let me begin by welcoming you all to India House today. This is a get-together of Indians, Indian Diaspora and Friends of India. I acknowledge the presence of our Swiss friends who have joined us today. I thank the friends who have travelled several scores of kilometers to reach here today. I also acknowledge the presence of my colleagues from London who are joining us today.

I met some of you at flag hoisting ceremony here two weeks ago. In fact, we have been meeting at various events that the Embassy organized during the last few months. I have also been visiting different cities and institutions in Switzerland where I had the opportunity to interact with some of you.

A few months ago, in January this year, some of us met here for a brain storming session on how the Embassy and the Indian Diaspora and friends of India could join hands together to promote Indian interests in Switzerland and Lichtenstein and also to celebrate Indian culture and festivals here.

This reception was organized today to present before you the activities undertaken by the Embassy and also to brief you on what we plan to undertake in coming weeks and months. I am sure that most of you access the information that our Embassy tries to convey through its website and social media. Our endeavor has been to make the Embassy a ‘Home Away from Home’ for all Indians in Switzerland and also to work towards a deeper engagement with all sections of Swiss society by reaching out to all. In particular I wanted to emphasize on a few events that Government of India will undertake involving diaspora and friends of India such as Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz competition and Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Varanasi in January 2019.

Before we make the presentations on these events and also brief you on what we propose to do in coming weeks and months, I need to refer to two important developments.

On August 16, our former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away. The Government had declared seven days of mourning. The national flag was flying half-mast for seven days. We also opened a condolence book at India House which was signed by several dignitaries including representatives of the Swiss Federal Council, Swiss Federal Parliament and several Ambassadors and members of diaspora. I request you to observe two minutes silence in solemn memory of the departed leader Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Thank you.

We all are aware of the unfortunate flood situation in Kerala. It was the worst flooding in Kerala in nearly a century. For the benefit of our Swiss friends, let me mention this. Known internationally as ‘Gods own Country’, Kerala State famous for its scenic green landscapes, touristic spots, and backwaters, was devastated with over one million people in relief camps, and close to 400 reported dead.

I am proud to note that our sisters and brothers in Kerala are fast recovering from the devastating floods. We are so proud to see how the Malayalees came together transcending religious and material differences and barriers and worked together to help their brothers and sisters in need.I thank the hundreds of people in Switzerland, in Lichtenstein and in Vatican, who contacted me and my colleagues in the Embassy to express their solidarity with us.

I thank the Swiss President HE Alein Berset for his special message to President of India on the devastating floods in Kerala.

I am aware that many of us in our individual capacity and as groups and as associations have been supporting the people and government. Each one of us would want to share how we as an individual or as a group has contributed in this cause. Many of us will have ideas and suggestions that we would like to share with the authorities in Kerala. I would request you to share your views and suggestions with us at the suggestion counter that we have opened here. I promise you that each of the suggestions and ideas will be forwarded to the right authorities.

Now, may I request you to observe two minutes of silence in solemn memory of our brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the devastating flood tragedy?

Thank you.

Now I would like to brief you on the state of India – Swiss relations and our efforts in promoting this relationship.As Ambassador, it is my responsibility to keep the Indian diaspora and friends of India here informed about the progress in our engagement with Switzerland, with Lichtenstein and The Holy See.

There has been a deeper engagement of India and Switzerland in recent years. As you are aware, Prime Minister Modi was in Switzerland in June 2016. Swiss President was in New Delhi on a State visit in August 2017 during which we issued a forward looking comprehensive Joint Statement which calls for a ‘long standing dynamic partnership’. In January 2018, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was in Switzerland to deliver the opening key-note address at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. And early this month we had the Foreign Minister of Switzerland H.E. Dr. Ignazio Cassis visiting New Delhi and the historic city of Varanasi. I accompanied him in his meetings in Delhi.

I am also happy to inform you that I maintain regular engagement with the political leadership in Switzerland and its Cantons. I have called on most of the Federal Councillors. I also met Governors of Berne, Geneva andTicino. We also maintain regular meetings at official and political level.

Equally important is our business engagement with Switzerland which is growing rapidly. Our bilateral trade today is nearly USD 20 billion. The engagement between Indian and Swiss companies are deepening. Same is the case with other areas such as culture, movies, yoga, Ayurveda, tourism, cuisine and people to people exchanges. As you are aware we have our Indian Professionals Network (IPN) and Indian Cultural Network (ICN) which is organizing regular events in collaboration with other associations and groups. You are aware of the Digital India Summit that we organized earlier this month with the participation of over 80 companies.

It would not be an exaggeration for me to say that I see an India connect in every corner of Switzerland. If you look for it you can find it and work to further promote it. It might not come looking for you, it is your responsibility to look for it and engage with it. Almost every museum in this country has some India connection. Yesterday I visited the Swiss Games Museum in Montreux. It has a unique collection of games which originated in India. I was at Montreux to address an India Evening that the Montreux International Business Forum organized there. The Rietberg museum in Zurich has one of the best collections of India art. I was in Lugano a few weeks back, there at the museum has some of the rare collections of photographs of Mahatma Gandhi that Walter Bosshard, a Swiss, took in 1930s. At present at the Swiss National Museum in Prangins, there is an exhibition on ‘Chintz – A Fabric which revolutionalised the world’ with a unique collection of cotton fabric from India.

Every year several hundreds of thousands of Indians travel to Switzerland to appreciate the beautiful landscapes of Switzerland. Each year several thousands of Swiss nationals travel to India for tourism and business.Almost every city in Switzerland has an Indian restaurant and also group of citizens who believe in yoga and practice it every day. Indian film industry continues to look at Switzerland as a shooting destination.

This year is a special year for India – Swiss relations. This is the 70th anniversary of the signing of Friendship Treaty between India and Switzerland signed in 1948. We are set to celebrate a Festival of India in several cities in Switzerland - connecting Himalayas with Alps. We have a variety of artists from India set to perform during September to December 2018, to commemorate the 70th anniversary. We are also celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi this year. I request my colleague to brief you on the activities planned for this year.

Before I conclude let me request you to register for Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz at the counter there.

Thank you.

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