The free trade agreement between Switzerland and India came into force on October 1. Entrepreneurs from canton Vaud recently took part in an economic mission to explore this promising – but complex – market of 1.4 billion inhabitants. Swiss public broadcaster RTS joined the delegation. “It’s a hungry market,” said Romain Blaser, founder of Haidi, an AI-based logistics software company, speaking on RTS’s La Matinale. India, with its rapidly growing middle class and population of 1.4 billion, is drawing strong interest. “These are refined, highly educated people, with a middle class that is exploding,” Blaser added. Technology transfer and job creation The free trade agreement abolishes customs duties that had previously burdened Swiss exports. In return, companies from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – which includes Switzerland – have pledged to invest $100 billion (CHF80 billion) and create one million jobs in India over the next 15 years. This ambition reflects India’s ...
