Switzerland invites Indian investment

Chandigarh, Apr 22 (UNI) Switzerland, which is celebrating the year 2008 as the diamond jubilee of the Indo-Swiss Friendship Treaty, has invited investment from India in the land of watches and chocolates.

Swiss Ambassador Dominique Dreyer today said Switzerland was interested in Indian ceramics and exploring other areas where India could invest in his country, Regarding new areas where Switzerland wanted to invest in India, he said his country intended to make dial watches in India.

The Swiss Ambassador was talking to reporters here after an Interaction Session on Indo-Swiss Bilateral Trade Relations.

Various projects, in the fields of culture, business, politics, education, science and technology and development, had been planned in India and Switzerland across the year 2008, in association with a number of partners like Pro Helvetia, Switzerland Tourism, Swiss Development Cooperation and Swiss-India Chamber of Commerce, Mr Dreyer said.

''The year 2008 is a year of celebrations for India and Switzerland-a year that commemorates 60 years of the signing of the Indo-Swiss Friendship Treaty and of friendship that dates back to much earlier than that,'' Apart from celebrating 60 years of the signing of the treaty, he said, Switzerland was keen on strengthening present relationship with India, seeking new partnerships and presenting its diverse image to the Indian decision makers of today and tomorrow, he added.

Projects were being coordinated by the Embassy of Switzerland, New Delhi and Presence Switzerland, he said.

The visit of Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey to India in November 2007, served as a precursor to the launch of the jubilee celebrations, he added.

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