Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

August 2024 Download PDF

Message from SICC India President

Dear Chamber Members,

It gives me immense pleasure to bring you this quarterly newsletter on behalf of the Chamber. We are at one of the most important times of our journey as a Chamber. As we celebrate the completion of 75 years of the Indo-Swiss friendship treaty, we have already begun a new journey with the EFTA agreement between India and Switzerland. The coming years are very important for us. This newsletter offers you a  snapshot of these efforts. Many exciting initiatives are planned for the future, and I urge each of you to come forward with your ideas and feedback on how we, as a chamber, can continue to add value to each member company. I hope you appreciate the efforts in compiling this newsletter for your quick reference.

Warm Regards,
Satish Rao

Landmark Event

Signing of EFTA , Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
The morning of 10th March, 2024 marked a significant milestone as we officially signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The signing solidifies our commitment to fostering stronger economic ties, opening doors to new opportunities between India and Switzerland. With TEPA in place, businesses can look forward to streamlined processes, reduced barriers, and enhanced market access

Inaugural Events

SICC India delegation to World Economic Forum, Davos 2024

One of the most significant accomplishments of our delegation was the signing of three strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

  1. With Maharshtra State on investments intent in presence of
    Ambassador Dr. Ralf Heckner & Maharashtra CM, Mr. Eknath Shinde.
  2. With Swiss Business Hub in India on business initiatives
    collaboration
  3. We also took this opportunity to announce the collaboration of SICCI with the Indo Swiss Centre of Excellence, Pune, a state-of-the-art skill development centre skilling facility driven by the youth of today with the skill of tomorrow by signing an MOU in the presence of Dr. Ralf Heckner, Ambassador of Switzerland to India.

The delegation also met with governments of Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Each government expressed a proactive willingness to assist Chamber members in their business endeavours.

With Mr. Eknath Shinde CM, Maharashtra

With Dr. T. R. B. Raja Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Government of Tamil Nadu

With Ambassador Dr. Ralf Heckner and Mr. Niklaus Gugger, Member of the Swiss National Council

Networking and Camaradaerie :

Beyond the business engagements, the visit provided a unique opportunity for members accross India and Switzerland during the evening dinner, which showcased a special moment that exemplified the spirit of ‘ONE CHAMBER SPIRIT’

Swiss India Golf Tournament, Mysore

The inaugural Swiss India Golf Tournament, in collaboration with
Schevaran Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. and Cleanfix Reinigungssysteme AG, Switzerland, brought together like-minded professionals on the lush greens. It was an honor to have His Excellency Maharaja of Mysore, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, grace us with his presence. This event embodied our commitment to delivering value to our esteemed members.

All India Chamber Meet: Udaipur

The primary objective of bringing together members from across Pan India was exceptionally well received. The presence of our
Ambassador, Dr.Ralf Heckner enriched the event, particularly the
insightful discussions on EFTA and the subsequent steps forward.
Each chapter had the opportunity to showcase its activities, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration within our chamber. We are excited to announce that the All-India Chamber meet will be an annual event, scheduled for February/March each year.

Experience Based Events

Factory Visit, Mumbai and Pune

While the chamber regularly hosts knowledge-sharing sessions
through closed-door meetings, this factory visit offered a unique
learning experience through live demonstrations. Seeing firsthand
how these principles are applied in real-world settings is an invaluable experience that complements our daily professional endeavors.

Community Engagement Initiative: Kolkata Chapter

Kudos to the Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce India- East Chapter, Kolkata, for their remarkable initiative aimed at making a difference! It’s heartening to see their commitment to giving back to society, perfectly reflecting the values of the Chamber and the Indo-Swiss community.

A big thank you to Subrata Saha and Arup Choudhuri for lending their support to this noble cause, and for helping make a positive impact on the lives of these children.

Knowledge Sharing Events

Localizing Your Supply Chain in India: Key Challenges and Opportunities : West Chapter

Knowledge Sharing Events

Localizing Your Supply Chain in India: Key Challenges and Opportunities : West Chapter

The session on “Unlocking Business Potential: Localizing your supply chain in India,” in collaboration with our knowledge partners – Roedl & Partner India, covered the intricacies of India’s business landscape. Swiss Companies had the opportunity to network with Mr. Martin Maier, Hon’ble Consul General, Consulate General of Switzerland in Mumbai, who graced the event as Chief Guest

Emotional Health in the Digital Era (North Chapter)

The session on “Emotional Health in the Digital Era” was an
insightful discussion emphasizing mindfulness in today’s digital world. We were honored to have Dimple Mehta from Soul Diets highlight the importance of mindfulness and its relevance. An engaging activity on Mindful Technology Use allowed our members to explore ways to foster a happier and healthier environment.

Fireside Chat with Consul General, Mr Martin Maier – Exploring the Impact of TEPA, (West Chapter)

Mr. Martin Maier shared valuable insights into the impact
of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)
on our business landscape. His perspectives highlighted
potential opportunities and challenges, underscoring the
importance of such dialogues in fostering understanding and
collaboration.

We are excited to announce that this is just the beginning! Stay tuned for more upcoming chapters and initiatives, as we continue to provide our members with opportunities for learning, growth and networking. We strongly encourage all our members to participate and take advantage of these enriching experiences.

Stay tuned for more updates and enriching sessions aimed at empowering our community!

Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce National Executive Committee

Satish Rao
President

Ashwani Keswani
President-West

Vaibhav Pitale
Vice President-West

Prashant Gokhale
President-South

Gaurav Ahluwalia
Vice President-South

Deepak Parab
President
Tamilnadu

Jayaram Radhakrishnan
Vice President
Tamilnadu

Meghna Shah
CEO

Subrata Saha
President-East

Arup Choudhuri
Vice President-East

Kulathu Kumar
President-Pune

Pravin Shirse
Vice President-Pune

Punit Gupta
President-North

Ashish Kaul
Vice President-North