Latest news with #MayaTissafi
Hans India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Swiss Network in India Partners with HCLSoftware to Pioneer Advanced GovTech Solutions
HCLSoftware, a global leader in enterprise software solutions, has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Swiss Network in India, represented by the Embassy of Switzerland, the Swiss Business Hub India, and Swissnex in India, to join the Indo-Swiss Innovation Platform. The Platform, established alongside the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) framework, sets the foundation for bilateral collaboration in strengthening digital infrastructure and strategically boosting Indo-Swiss collaboration. The MoU aims to address key public sector challenges by promoting citizen-centric digital transformation across domains of GovTeh such as, e-governance, sovereign collaboration, healthcare, edtech, and agritech. Drawing on HCLSoftware's experience in enterprise technologies and building platforms such as HCL Total Experience, HCL Universal Orchestrator, HCL AppScan, and HCL BigFix, the partnership will explore new models of collaboration that respond to real-world governance needs. By engaging stakeholders from government, academia, startups, and industry, the MoU fosters a cross-border GovTech innovation corridor, opening up opportunities for knowledge exchange and long-term co-innovation between Switzerland and India. 'This MoU represents our commitment to building international partnerships that drive meaningful innovation in the public sector,' said Mrs. Maya Tissafi, Ambassador of Switzerland to India. 'By combining our countries' strengths in technology and governance, we can create solutions that benefit citizens while setting new standards for international cooperation in digital transformation.' Jonas Brunschwig, CEO and Consul General of Swissnex in India, added, 'HCLSoftware joining the Indo-Swiss Innovation Platform in a strategic partnership can accelerate GovTech innovation. This partnership will create tangible opportunities for startups, researchers, and technology companies in both countries to collaborate on solutions that address real-world governance challenges and enhance digital infrastructure.' As part of this partnership, HCLSoftware brings its Experience, Data, and Operations (XDO) Blueprint — a strategic framework developed to support public sector modernization. This expertise will contribute to identifying scalable approaches to enhance user experience, streamline service delivery, and enable data-informed decision- making across governance domains. 'This partnership represents a meaningful step toward advancing GovTech through international collaboration,' said Kalyan Kumar, Chief Product Officer at HCLSoftware. 'By contributing our experience and frameworks like the XDO Blueprint, we aim to support joint efforts exploring innovative, citizen-centric digital transformation approaches. We look forward to working with partners across Switzerland and India to co-create scalable solutions that can enhance transparency, improve service accessibility, and strengthen public institutions for the future.' As both nations continue their digital transformation journey, the partnership will catalyze developing next-generation public sector technologies and set a new benchmark in e- governance.
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Finally, Switzerland ratifies India-EFTA mega trade pact
New Delhi: Switzerland has finally completed the ratification process for a landmark trade deal between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) that would reduce trade barriers and significantly open up the Indian market to Swiss exports. Swiss Ambassador to India Maya Tissafi described Switzerland's ratification of the trade pact as a "significant milestone" in her country's bilateral relationship with New Delhi. The envoy told that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is expected to come into force in October. Under the mega trade pact, the EFTA states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are looking at making an investment of USD 100 billion in India over the next 15 years. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have already ratified the trade deal. In March, the four-nation European grouping signed the TEPA with India following nearly 16 years of negotiations. " At midnight yesterday (Swiss time), the referendum deadline for the EFTA-India TEPA officially expired. With no referendum, the Swiss people have expressed their tacit approval of the agreement," Tissafi said on Friday. Switzerland's ratification of the trade pact came more than seven months after the Swiss Council of States approved it. "The TEPA paves the way for long-term cooperation between our countries. Apart from reduced tariffs, it will help streamline customs procedures, enhance intellectual property protections and establish a framework for sustainable trade practices," Tissafi said.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trade pact breakthrough: Switzerland ratifies India-EFTA agreement; $100 billion investment and 10 lakh jobs likely
Switzerland has completed the ratification process for the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), paving the way for the landmark deal to come into force in October. The pact, signed in March after nearly 16 years of negotiations, aims to significantly reduce trade barriers and enhance investment flows between India and the four EFTA member states — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Swiss Ambassador to India Maya Tissafi hailed the ratification as a "significant milestone" in bilateral ties and said TEPA is expected to unlock investments worth $100 billion and create 10 lakh jobs in India over the next 15 years, PTI reported. 'At midnight yesterday (Swiss time), the referendum deadline for the EFTA-India TEPA officially expired. With no referendum, the Swiss people have expressed their tacit approval of the agreement,' Tissafi said in a social media post. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have already ratified the agreement. 'The TEPA paves the way for long-term cooperation between our countries. Apart from reduced tariffs, it will help streamline customs procedures, enhance intellectual property protections and establish a framework for sustainable trade practices,' said Tissafi, quoted PTI. She added that the Swiss government would focus on successfully implementing TEPA to benefit Swiss companies looking to invest in India. 'We are partnering with business associations in Switzerland and India and with Indian authorities at the central and state levels. The opening of the EFTA Desk in February is one measure that facilitates investments from EFTA countries in India.' Currently, Switzerland ranks as the 12th-largest investor in India. Swiss investments have increased from CHF 551 million (approximately Rs 5,935 crore) in 2000 to CHF 10 billion (Rs 1,07,736 crore) in 2024. Tissafi noted that while the agreement will be effective from October, 'in the specific domain of trade in goods, some categories of products will be subject to progressive dismantling periods, spanning over 10 years in some cases.' More than 330 Swiss companies operate in India across sectors including engineering, precision instruments, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and services. Indian firms, meanwhile, are active in Switzerland in areas such as IT, machinery and pharma. Tissafi also highlighted the broader bilateral relationship, noting that the two countries have shared a robust partnership over 77 years since signing the Treaty of Friendship. 'Our multi-sectoral cooperation covers diverse areas, including diplomacy, economy, trade and investment, education, research and innovation, skills development, vocational education and training, development, climate change and disaster-risk reduction, and culture,' she said. Among recent initiatives, she cited the launch of the Swiss-Indian Innovation Platform in Bengaluru in October 2023, aimed at connecting IITs and Swiss universities with top companies from both countries to build strategic innovation collaborations. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Mint
11-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Switzerland ratifies landmark India-EFTA mega trade pact: Here's what it means for Indian economy
Switzerland has officially completed the ratification process for a landmark trade partnership between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Swiss Ambassador to India Maya Tissafi conveyed that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is expected to come into force in October. Ambassador Tissafi described Switzerland's ratification of the trade pact as a 'significant milestone' in the country's bilateral relationship with New Delhi. The agreement, signed in March after nearly 16 years of negotiations, is poised to reduce trade barriers and streamline customs procedures by opening up the Indian market to Swiss exports. Under the mega trade pact, the EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) plan to invest $100 billion in India over the next 15 years. This investment is expected to create one million (10 lakh) jobs in the country, she said, adding that this will be a 'win-win situation' for all countries involved. As per current data compiled by PTI, Switzerland stands as the 12th-largest investor in India. Swiss investments in India have grown exponentially over the last 25 years, rising from ₹ 5,935 crore in 2000 to ₹ 1,07,736 crore in 2024, the envoy said. More than 330 Swiss companies are active in India across diverse sectors such as engineering, services, precision instruments, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Indian companies are also present in Switzerland, particularly in sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals and machinery. Tissafi said the Swiss government's immediate priority would be successfully implementing the TEPA for Swiss companies looking to invest in India. 'To this end, we are partnering with business associations in Switzerland and India and with Indian authorities at the central and state levels,' she said. The establishment of the EFTA desk in February is one such initiative aimed at easing investments from EFTA countries, news agency PTI reported. Beyond the TEPA, the bilateral relationship between India and Switzerland has evolved over the last 77 years after the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship. The relationship between the two countries is on an upward trajectory, the envoy said, adding that they are cooperating in various domains, from the signing of the TEPA last March to implementing projects in fields like climate change, disaster-risk reduction and environment. Another notable advancement in the partnership between the two countries is also the launch of the Swiss-Indian Innovation Platform in Bengaluru in October 2023, she said. The platform connects Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Swiss technical high schools and universities with leading private companies from both countries to foster strategic innovation partnerships, the news agency reported.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Switzerland greenlights India-EFTA mega trade pact; sets stage for October rollout
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi, Switzerland has finally completed the ratification process for a landmark trade deal between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) that would reduce trade barriers and significantly open up the Indian market to Swiss exports. Swiss Ambassador to India Maya Tissafi described Switzerland's ratification of the trade pact as a "significant milestone" in her country's bilateral relationship with New envoy told PTI that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) is expected to come into force in the mega trade pact, the EFTA States of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are looking at making an investment of USD 100 billion in India over the next 15 Liechtenstein and Norway have already ratified the trade March, the four-nation European grouping signed the TEPA with India following nearly 16 years of negotiations."At midnight yesterday (Swiss time), the referendum deadline for the EFTA-India TEPA officially expired. With no referendum, the Swiss people have expressed their tacit approval of the agreement," Tissafi said in a social media ratification of the trade pact came more than seven months after the Swiss Council of States approved it."The TEPA paves the way for long-term cooperation between our countries. Apart from reduced tariffs, it will help streamline customs procedures, enhance intellectual property protections and establish a framework for sustainable trade practices," Tissafi told importantly, the EFTA states will invest USD 100 billion and create one million (10 lakh) jobs in India over 15 years, she said, adding that this will be a "win-win situation" for all countries Switzerland is the 12th-largest investor in investments in India have grown exponentially over the last 25 years, rising from CHF 551 million (approximately Rs 5,935 crore) in 2000 to CHF 10 billion (Rs 1,07,736 crore) in 2024, the envoy said."The TEPA is expected to enter into force in October, date upon which the agreement will be effective. Of course, in the specific domain of trade in goods, some categories of products will be subject to progressive dismantling periods, spanning over 10 years in some cases," she said the Swiss government's priority would be to successfully implement the TEPA for the Swiss companies that want to invest in India."To this end, we are partnering with business associations in Switzerland and India and with Indian authorities at the central and state levels. The opening of the EFTA Desk in February is one measure that facilitates investments from EFTA countries in India," she than 330 Swiss companies are present in India in sectors such as engineering, services, precision instruments, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, while Indian companies are present in Switzerland in sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals and the overall India-Switzerland ties, Tissafi said the bilateral relations have evolved over the last 77 years, since the two countries signed the Treaty of Friendship."Our multi-sectoral cooperation covers diverse areas, including diplomacy, economy, trade and investment, education, research and innovation, skills development, vocational education and training, development, climate change and disaster-risk reduction, and culture. This relationship has been reinforced over the years through regular high-level visits," she relationship between the two countries is on an upward trajectory, the envoy said, adding that they are making strides in various domains, from the signing of the TEPA last March to the implementing of projects in the fields of climate change, disaster-risk reduction and environment."The TEPA underscores our commitment to enhancing trade and economic ties between our two nations. Another notable advancement in our partnership is also the launch of the Swiss-Indian Innovation Platform in Bengaluru in October 2023," she platform connects Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Swiss technical high schools and universities with leading private companies from both countries to foster strategic innovation companies have been operating in India in the machine, electrical engineering and metals (MEM) and precision sectors, as well as in services, information, communication, software, medtech and construction, among other sectors.
