President Murmu Hosts Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois, Princess Sophie

• President Droupadi Murmu hosts Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois and Princess Sophie at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• India and Liechtenstein seek stronger trade, investment and technology ties.
• The India-EFTA agreement targets $100 billion in investment and one million direct jobs over 15 years.
• Both sides identify opportunities in manufacturing, Fintech, healthcare and skill development.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 28th Oct: President Droupadi Murmu received Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday and hosted a banquet in their honour, reaffirming the commitment of both countries to deepen bilateral relations.

Welcoming the visiting royal couple and their delegation, President Murmu said Prince Alois’s regular engagement with India reflected his long-standing commitment to strengthening relations between the two countries.

The President noted that cooperation between India and Liechtenstein had continued to expand across trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, culture and people-to-people exchanges. She emphasised that closer economic ties had become increasingly important amid the prevailing geopolitical and geoeconomic uncertainties.

India-EFTA Agreement Opens New Opportunities
President Murmu highlighted the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), concluded in 2024, as an important opportunity to strengthen trade and investment relations.

She expressed confidence that the commitment to facilitate $100 billion in investments in India and generate one million direct jobs over the next 15 years would provide a strong foundation for expanding cooperation in areas of shared interest.

The agreement is expected to create fresh opportunities for businesses and investors while supporting deeper economic engagement between India and EFTA member countries, including Liechtenstein.

Focus on Manufacturing, Fintech and Innovation
The President welcomed the growing interest among Liechtenstein companies in expanding their engagement with India. Potential areas of cooperation include advanced manufacturing, financial technology (Fintech), agricultural research, sustainable infrastructure, healthcare and material sciences.

She also highlighted the scope for skill development and vocational training through partnerships between industries and educational institutions.

Murmu said India and Liechtenstein could build a mutually beneficial partnership by combining Liechtenstein’s expertise in advanced manufacturing, innovation and financial services with India’s skilled workforce, manufacturing capabilities and rapidly growing market.

Leaders Seek Stronger Bilateral Cooperation
The two leaders agreed that closer cooperation between India and Liechtenstein could deliver significant benefits to their people. They also expressed confidence that the visit would contribute to further strengthening bilateral relations.

The meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan underlined the shared interest of both countries in expanding economic engagement and exploring new avenues of cooperation across technology, industry, finance and other priority sectors.