Having generated investment intent worth $1.2 billion since the ratification of the Trade & Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in October 2025, the Swiss India Chamber of Commerce (SICC) is now heading to the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos later this month to woo over 1200 Swiss companies which are currently operating in the US.
The purpose of the visit is to woo investors from the TEPA countries namely Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein through a delegation of the Swiss companies which are already operating in India for years.
As per the pact firms from TEPA countries have committed to invest $100 billion in India in 15 years with a potential to generate a million jobs.
“Post the TEPA signing this is the first time that SICC is taking a delegation of CEOs of Swiss companies in India to WEF. Who can be the better ambassadors of the way of doing business in India than the practicing successful CEOs,” Satish Rao, President, SICC said in an interview.
“It is a stamp of authenticity and stamp of endorsement that it is indeed India is a great place to operate. While 328 Swiss companies are operating in India, there are about 1,200 Swiss companies operating in United States. They are the first low hanging fruit that we would be targeting to get them to India and introduce them to various Indian states which would put up pavilions there,” he said.
Stating that TEPA has brought a policy clarity to execution and planning, he said for perspective investors from TEPA countries it’s no longer about should or should they not, but it is all about when should they do it or will they miss the bus?
“That is the catalyst approach this TEPA has done,” he emphasised.
“We have already got a commitment of $1.2 billion from the Swiss companies which is going to be invested in the next 7 to 10 years. This is primarily coming from the organic expansion of the Swiss companies which are already existing in India,” he said.
Since more than 60% of the Swiss investments in India is currently concentrated in three geographies namely Mumbai- Pune corridor. Bengaluru-Chennai corridor and Delhi NCR in sectors such as precision engineering, equipment, chemicals, consumer goods and technology, efforts will be on to broad-base the basket and the regions.
“We have already lined up or in advanced stages of discussion with a few states of India and plan to sign memorandum of understanding to facilitate investments. Going to Davos will be a great opportunity to boost the image of India in the global marketplace at a times when there are lot of geopolitical challenges going around in the globe. Here is India standing tall talking and meaning business,” Mr Rao pointed out.
“The delegate members would serve as ambassadors to the world saying that look at India, we are standing here giving a stamp of endorsement that it is indeed a great place to operate at,” he said.
Highlighting that almost 34% of the Swiss companies which are into machine tools engineering already have set up R&D bases in India, he said fresh investors can look at having GCCs and R&D centres for product development capabilities because India has the skill to meet their global requirements.
“We are seeing early signs where the Swiss companies are looking at India in a very very keen manner. One is India as the GCC hub for the world because there are lot of companies which are operating at a global level,” he said.
“We are asking Swiss companies to look at India just not as a consumer base but as a base to service the world whether it could be the financial hub or the supply chain hub to cater to your global marketplace,” he said.
SICC will also talk to new age technology companies having expertise in innovations, robotics, AI to invest in India.
“We are also looking at technology, AI,ML, robotics companies which should be attracted to India because it will be a good win win model for India and Switzerland,” he concluded.
