Piyush Goyal on 5-day visit to Switzerland, Sweden amid push for FTA with EU

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal began his official visit to Switzerland on Monday as part of a five-day tour to Switzerland and Sweden to boost trade and investment ties with the two key European economies.

The visit, from June 9 to 13, is part of India’s efforts to deepen strategic and economic partnerships with Europe and build momentum on shared priorities in trade, innovation, and sustainable development.

During the Switzerland leg, Goyal is scheduled to hold a series of high-level meetings with global CEOs and top Swiss industry leaders in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and precision engineering. He will also meet Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin to further strengthen diplomatic and trade relations between the two nations.

The minister will participate in Swissmem Industry Day and a business roundtable with the Swiss Mechanical and Electrical (MEM) Industry. Discussions are expected to focus on expanding cooperation under the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), the commerce ministry said in a statement.

Goyal’s engagements include one-on-one meetings with leading Swiss companies, alongside interactions involving Indian industry representatives, aimed at forging direct collaboration.

In Sweden, the minister will co-chair the 21st Session of the Indo-Swedish Joint Commission for Economic, Industrial and Scientific Cooperation (JCEISC) with Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa.

He is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Dousa and Håkan Jevrell, State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade, to explore avenues for strengthening the already robust India-Sweden economic relationship.

Major Swedish firms such as Ericsson, Volvo Group, IKEA, Sandvik, Alfa Laval, and SAAB are expected to participate in discussions with the Indian delegation, focusing on collaboration in advanced manufacturing, green technologies, and innovation.

The minister will also address members of the Indian diaspora and engage with the media in both countries.

Goyal’s visit comes amid India’s accelerated efforts to finalise free trade agreements with the European Union. The minister met EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic thrice in 35 days, including meetings on May 1 and May 23 in Brussels, followed by a third round on June 2 in Paris.