Swiss President stresses on partnership in programmes like Skill India, Digital India

Swiss Confederation President Doris Leuthard on 31 August said that India and Switzerland can be relevant and reliable partners in programmes like Skill India, Digital India, Clean India, Startup India and Smart Cities.

Addressing a joint statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Leuthard said that both the countries would launch Swiss-Indian friendship activities.

"We will launch Swiss-Indian friendship activities; we came here with 30 representatives of the business society. We can be relevant and reliable partner in programmes like Skill India, Digital India, Clean India, Startup India and Smart cities," she said.

President Leuthard said that Switzerland has one of the strongest laws on money laundering and they would be happy if other countries follow Switzerland.

She further said that Switzerland is and will be an important financial place.

"We have all an interest to be transparent, cooperative and be a good reliable partner," she added.

President Leuthard said Switzerland is the 11th largest investor in India and the seventh largest recipient of the Indian investments.

"We share same values and open-mindedness when it come to investments," she said.

She also paid her condolence to the victims of the Mumbai floods.

Meanwhile, both the countries signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)

The MoUs were signed between the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich and another between the Ministry of Railways, India and Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications of the Swiss Federation on Technical Cooperation in Rail Sector.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi thanked Switzerland for its continuous support for India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), in a joint statement with President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard.

In his address, Prime Minister Modi also thanked Switzerland for its support to Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) membership.

Before the joint statement both countries held delegation-level talks at India-Swiss Business Engagement at the Hyderabad House.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Swiss President and discussed various bilateral issues.

"First engagement for an honoured guest. EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on President Leuthard and discussed wide-ranging issues of mutual interest," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Leuthard, who is on a three-day visit, was also given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Swiss president is accompanied by senior government officials and a large business delegation of leading Swiss companies. 

-ANI