India, Switzerland Sign 5 Key Agreements
Migration, young professionals, transport, science and startup cooperation emerge as major outcomes of Swiss President’s India visit
- India and Switzerland sign five agreements across key sectors.
- Migration pact provides for multiple-entry visas of up to five years.
- Young Professionals Scheme will initially exchange 300 persons annually.
- Cooperation expands into transport, science, startups and innovation.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 5th Oct: India and Switzerland on Monday announced a series of agreements and initiatives covering migration and mobility, young professionals, transportation technologies, scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship during the State Visit of the President of the Swiss Confederation to India.
According to the outcomes released by the Press Information Bureau, the two countries signed a MoU on Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) aimed at strengthening cooperation on migration and mobility based on equal treatment principles. The agreement also seeks to prevent and combat irregular migration, human exploitation and trafficking in accordance with national laws.
Under the arrangement, eligible applicants will have access to multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years, including stays of up to six months on each visit. It also provides for renewable one-year student permits.
India and Switzerland also signed an Agreement on the Exchange of Young Professionals (YPS). The agreement will facilitate the temporary employment of young professionals in each other’s countries to help them enhance their professional and language skills within their respective fields.
The Young Professionals Scheme provides for the exchange of 300 persons annually from each country, with the possibility of increasing the number to 500. It also includes provisions for verification of nationality and residency status within specified timelines of 30 or 90 days.
A third agreement focuses on transportation technologies, mobility systems and infrastructure. The MoU between Switzerland’s Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research and India’s Ministry of Road Transport & Highways seeks to promote sustainable infrastructure development.
The cooperation will cover areas including electric vehicles, ropeways, circular economy, tunnels and other transport sectors, with an emphasis on advancing technology and infrastructure.
In the field of science and research, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) signed a Letter of Intent to promote long-term cooperation between Indian and Swiss research communities.
The initiative will support exploratory scientific collaboration, build partnerships for future joint research and establish a broader framework for long-term initiatives in mutually agreed priority areas.
India and Switzerland also signed an Implementation Arrangement on Innovation, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship between the DST and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences.
The arrangement will facilitate bilateral cooperation in innovation, technology transfer and entrepreneurship through the Indo-Swiss Academia-Industry Training (AIT India) programme for early-stage startups. It will include bilateral exchanges, joint workshops, capability building and networking.
As part of the announcements, the two sides also announced the inaugural session of the Indo-Swiss Research Flagship event in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The outcomes underline the expanding India-Switzerland partnership across mobility, infrastructure, scientific research, innovation and opportunities for young professionals.
