Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Guy Parmelin signed migration and young-professional agreements and said they would deepen defence and nuclear cooperation.
India and Switzerland signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement and a Young Professionals Agreement on Monday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Swiss President Guy Parmelin. The Indian Express reported that the leaders also agreed to strengthen cooperation on defence and nuclear energy.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the mobility memorandum is meant to develop cooperation on equal-treatment principles and to prevent irregular migration, exploitation and trafficking under national law. It provides multiple-entry visas of up to five years, with stays of up to six months on each visit, and renewable one-year student permits, the paper reported from the ministry.
The young-professionals pact covers an exchange of 300 people a year in each direction, a figure that may rise to 500, and sets a 30-to-90-day timeline for checks on nationality or residency, the MEA said according to the Indian Express. Modi said the agreements would open opportunities in Switzerland for Indian students, researchers, professionals and young people.
The meeting also covered wider trade and investment ties. A special group is expected to review progress under the existing trade and economic partnership, according to separate Indian business reporting, though that review body is distinct from the mobility texts signed on Monday.
Implementation depends on each side’s visa and recognition procedures. Neither government published a start date for the first exchange cohort in the account used here.
People Sentiments Positive
- Narendra Modi said the agreements would open opportunities for Indian students, researchers and young professionals.