President of India hails Switzerland as natural partner
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, SEPT 01, 2017: Welcoming the Swiss President, the President of India said that Switzerland and India are natural partners. Switzerland is one of the oldest democracies and India is the largest democracy. A Treaty of Friendship between India and Switzerland signed in New Delhi in August 1948 was one of the first treaties to be signed by independent India.
The President said that Switzerland is an important trade and investment partner for India. India is a preferred destination for FDI as it is the world's fastest growing large economy. He stated that India has made great progress on the ‘Ease of Doing Business' and in creating a unified market through GST and other measures. Swiss companies are ideally positioned to take advantage. He invited Swiss technology companies to take part in initiatives like Make in India, Start-Up India, Swachh Bharat and Skill India.
Subsequently, in his banquet speech, President said that the visit of the Swiss President assumes special significance as this year marks a milestone in bilateral relations. India and Switzerland enter the 70th year of the Friendship and Establishment Treaty. Both India and Switzerland represent democratic and plural societies that believe in the principles of “respect for differences” and “unity in diversity”. Switzerland is India's seventh largest trading partner and 11th largest foreign investor.
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