On 27 November 2025, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with Helene Budliger Artieda  the Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs  along with a delegation of Swiss pharmaceutical and biotech companies to explore new avenues for collaboration and investment.

During the meeting, both sides highlighted India’s growing attractiveness for pharma and biotech investments  pointing to a large domestic market, skilled workforce, cost-effective manufacturing strengths, and improving regulatory environment. The discussion emphasised cooperation in R&D, technology transfer, and setting up manufacturing  biotech units in India. 

An important enabler mentioned was the India-EFTA TEPA trade agreement, under which Switzerland (along with other EFTA members) now enjoys smoother trade and investment frameworks with India. The agreement aims to ease market access and promote deeper bilateral partnerships in sectors like pharmaceuticals, life sciences, and medical technologies. ls from Swiss firms reportedly viewed India not just as a market, but as a viable base for global-scale manufacturing and R&D export hub  given India’s cost and ecosystem advantages. At the same time, Indian officials assured strong regulatory support, intellectual-property frameworks, and facilitation via dedicated desks for EFTA investors, offering a stable environment for long-term collaboration. 

This engagement comes at a time when India is actively seeking to shift its pharmaceutical industry from bulk generics manufacturing toward innovation-led biosimilars, complex generics, and biologics  a transition that could benefit significantly from foreign investment, advanced tech and global partnerships.