Question : BILATERAL TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND SWITZERLAND

(a) whether bilateral trade between India and Switzerland has been growing in the recent past;

(b) if so, whether Switzerland has shown their interest for a free trade agreement with India;

(c) if so, the details in this regard; and

(d) the reaction of the Government thereon?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) Bilateral trade between India and Switzerland during the last three years has been as follows:


 (US$ million)
Year	Export Import TotalTrade
2004-05	540.89 5939.93 6480.81

2005-06 479.52 6555.80 7035.32

2006-07	466.15 9116.32 9582.47

(b),(c)&(d): Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).Switzerland, as part of EFTA, had proposed establishment of an India-EFTA Joint Study Group to examine measures to promote bilateral trade and investment flows and to explore the possibility of a bilateral broad based Trade and Investment agreement.

This JSG was established on 1 December 2006 and has met four times in 2007.The report of the JSG has been submitted to the Governments on both sides recommending that the governments of the EFTA States and India enter into negotiations for a broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement.

Question : BILATERAL TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND SWITZERLAND

Answer given by the minister

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