Swiss President Doris Leuthard is on a three day trip to India. She was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. Following her welcome, she held meetings with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the late hours of Friday night during the ceremony at the Swiss Embassy here to launch celebrations of the 70th year of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and India, Doris said that her country is committed to supporting India in the fight to eradicate black money. Further commenting on the friendship shared between the two nations, she said that India is a good friend and now it has been 70 years, that both countries have listened to each other, given advice, learned from each other and respected each other’s decisions and opinions. It is on this basis that today India and Switzerland are celebrating 70 years of its friendship, she added.
Doris also told that “And, Switzerland is committed to supporting India’s fight against black money through the exchange of related information and this year we await the approval of our Parliament.” Talking about the cordial relations shared by both the countries she highlighted that there are about 250 Swiss companies operating in India, while 140 Indian firms operating back in Switzerland.
She further added that the two nations are now planning to work together in the fields of railways, design, film and tourism. She added that “our trade volume is growing and various sectors on which we can collaborate more and work together are railways, design, film and tourism.” Finally concluding her address she thanked India for its friendship.
During the launch programme hosted at the sprawling garden of the Embassy, two short films on opportunities in Switzerland and its culture and 70 years of journey of the two nations were also shown. Senior government officials and business delegations of leading Swiss companies, ambassadors from many countries, along with representatives from business, art and other sectors also attended launch programme of the celebration of 70 years of cordial relations between India and Switzerland.