Guten Abend.
Excellency Federal Councilor Mr. Ueli Maurer, Excellency Member of Parliament Mr. Nik Gugger, Excellencies Members of Parliament who have joined us today, Excellency Ambassador-designate of India to Switzerland Dr. Ralf Heckner, Excellency State Secretary Ms. Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, Mr. Phil Reich, President of the Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Friends of India.
Let me begin with extending my gratitude for the warm welcome that I have received from all quarters upon my arrival in Switzerland. I would also like to thank Mr. Phil Reich for organizing this event today which will certainly help me understand the dynamics of this subject which our two countries have been discussing for more than a decade.
India and Switzerland have excellent relations. We share a long history of warm and cordial relations. India attaches significance and priority to its relationship with Switzerland. The strength of our Longstanding Dynamic Partnership is underpinned by our common values of democracy, pluralism, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The quick succession of high-level visits between our two countries indicates the depth of our bilateral relationship and the importance India lays in nurturing ties with Switzerland.
Friends, India has been traditionally guided by the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ inscribed in our ancient scriptures. It means The World is One Family. This spirit is reflected in Government of India’s efforts when it is providing medical supplies to 150 countries in the wake of the COVID 19 crisis. India has also taken the lead in a number of globally relevant initiatives, such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. These are aimed at win-win solutions for the world and the Swiss value addition to these initiatives will be very useful.
Today, the people of India have taken a solemn resolve to build an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat or Self Reliant India. It merges the local with the global. It ensures India’s strengths act as a global force multiplier. The New India that we are building has adopted a new governance model which is people centric and public friendly. Policy-based far-reaching reforms are taking place. In the last few years, more than 1500 archaic laws have been abolished. Business has been made easier. Red-tapism has been replaced by Red Carpet. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, over 20 billion dollars of foreign investment flows has entered India this year. Google and Amazon have announced long-term plans for India.
Tremendous reforms are taking place in the field of human development. A New Education Policy has been announced which is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, including SDG 4, while building up on India’s traditions and value systems. Mission Karamyogi has been launched to prepare Civil Servants for the future by making them more creative, constructive & innovative through transparency and technology.
India has jumped from the rank of 134 a few years ago to the rank of 63 on the Ease of Doing Business Ranking. For the first time, this year India has also entered into world’s Top 50 most innovative countries in WIPO’s Global Innovation Index with a rank of 48. India ranks in the top 15 in indicators such as Government Online Services and R&D-intensive global companies. India has outshined in the sub-pillar ‘Knowledge Diffusion’ witnessing a jump of staggering 13 ranks from 23rd in 2019 to 10th in 2020.
Friends, India is a young and aspirational country. It has political stability and policy continuity. It is open and engaging with the world and provides immense opportunities for further strengthening of India-Switzerland trade and investment ties.
India-EFTA TEPA negotiations have been taking place for more than a decade. I can affirm that India shares very strong and deep ties with the EFTA countries, with the economic relationship being an important element in this sphere and greatly valued by both sides. Switzerland, which is the largest trade constituent within the EFTA, is the most prominent trade partner amongst the EFTA countries and ranks 7th in terms of India’s imports from the world and 11th in the overall trade.
A Video Conference between the Chief Negotiators of the India-EFTA TEPA took place last October. It has been followed by subsequent virtual meetings. A meeting between Chief Negotiators of India and Switzerland was held in Berne this March to take stock of the negotiations and discuss the way forward. This meeting took place on the sidelines of the 17th session of the India-Switzerland Joint Economic Commission. A positive meeting between our Trade Ministers also took place on the sidelines of the WEF in Davos earlier this year.
India accords high priority to trade with the EFTA countries and early conclusion of this Agreement can have significant economic gains for both the sides. This assumes an even greater significance owing to the changing economic paradigm, with realigning political economic powers, and disruptions of supply chains.
India believes that the two sides should view this engagement as a strategic endeavour, with significant mutual economic gains, with the balanced approach, for both the sides.
With those words, I would like to conclude my address and I look forward to an engaging panel discussion today.
Thanks You. Danke.
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