Indian Ambassador briefs EAM Jaishankar on developments in bilateral ties with Switzerland
Zurich, July 16
India's Ambassador to Switzerland, Mridul Kumar, on Thursday met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Zurich Airport during his return to New Delhi from a six-nation tour.
"Amb Kumar warmly welcomed Hon'ble EAM S Jaishankar at Zurich Airport, Switzerland, during transit, on his return from a successful six-nation tour covering Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the US and Belgium. Amb Kumar took this opportunity to brief Hon'ble EAM on the latest developments in India-Switzerland bilateral relations, including growing high-level exchanges," the Embassy of India in Switzerland wrote on X.
On Wednesday, EAM Jaishankar held a meeting with the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, in Brussels, discussing opportunities for research in clean and green energy technologies, innovation hubs, startups and association with 'Horizon Europe'.
India's Ambassador to Belgium and the EU, Pranay Verma, and other officials were also present during the meeting.
EAM Jaishankar and his counterpart from Belgium, Maxime Prevot, on Wednesday reviewed bilateral cooperation, including political, economic, investment, clean energy, defence, mobility and pharmaceutical domains. The two leaders focused on opportunities in ports, maritime, semiconductors and broader cooperation for supply chain de-risking.
The discussions were held during the inaugural India-Belgium Strategic Dialogue in Brussels on Wednesday. EAM Jaishankar and Prevot also exchanged views on global developments, including in West Asia.
"Co-chaired with DPM and FM Maxime Prevot the inaugural India Belgium Strategic Dialogue in Brussels today. Our partnership has witnessed significant deepening in recent years. Today's discussions reflected the ambition of India's ties with Belgium and the European Union," EAM Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.
"Reviewed our cooperation, including in political, economic, investment, clean energy, defence, mobility and pharmaceutical domains. Also focused on opportunities in ports, maritime, and semiconductors, as well as broader cooperation for supply chain de-risking. Had a useful exchange of perspectives on global developments, including in West Asia," he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see India engaging with Switzerland too - not just the big players. But I hope these high-level meetings translate into real benefits for Indians, like easier visa processes or student exchanges. We have so many talented people who could benefit from Swiss research partnerships.
The mention of 'Horizon Europe' is promising. Indian startups and researchers can finally tap into EU's mega R&D program. Combined with our own innovation ecosystem, this could be a game-changer for clean energy tech. But the government needs to ensure that benefits reach smaller startups, not just big corporations.
Waiting in transit at Zurich Airport and still finding time for a briefing - now that's dedication! 🇮🇳 Switzerland is an important partner for us in finance, pharma, and education. I hope this briefing covered the pending trade agreement talks as well. India-Swiss relations have so much untapped potential.
I appreciate the focus on supply chain de-risking with Belgium. After COVID disruptions, it's smart to diversify and strengthen these ties. But I'd also like to see more emphasis on cultural and educational exchanges - soft power matters too! More Indian students in Belgium would be wonderful.
While the diplomatic activity is impressive, I hope we're also prioritizing common citizens' issues in these talks. For instance, many Indians face visa delays for EU countries. Could this 'strategic dialogue' include easier mobility for students and professionals? That would be a real win-win.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.