President Murmu Meets Liechtenstein's Prince Alois, Highlights TEPA's Potential to Boost Bilateral Ties

According to a statement shared by Rashtrapati Bhavan on X, President Murmu said the agreement offered fresh opportunities for India and Liechtenstein to build a mutually beneficial partnership. She noted that Liechtenstein’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, innovation and financial services could complement India’s skilled workforce, manufacturing capabilities and expanding consumer market. The two sides agreed that closer cooperation could create significant economic opportunities and deliver benefits for people in both countries.

The TEPA, signed in March 2024 and implemented in October 2025, is a major trade agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Under the agreement, EFTA countries have outlined an ambition to facilitate $100 billion in investments in India over 15 years and support the creation of one million direct jobs. During the visit, both countries identified several areas with potential for stronger collaboration. These include advanced manufacturing, machinery and machine tools, precision engineering, medical technology, space technology, clean energy, artificial intelligence and financial services. The partnership aims to combine Liechtenstein’s specialised industrial expertise with India’s market size, skilled talent and economic growth.

Prince Alois’s visit marks his second trip to India this year. He previously attended the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February. The visiting royal received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him as part of Liechtenstein’s first state visit to India.

Speaking to reporters, Prince Alois expressed gratitude to the President and Prime Minister for their invitation and warm hospitality. He described the visit as an honour and said it reflected the importance Liechtenstein attaches to its relationship with India. The Prince also emphasised that the historic visit offered an opportunity to build on the progress made through TEPA, which came into force in October 2025. He described the agreement as an important milestone in bilateral relations and reaffirmed Liechtenstein’s commitment to strengthening ties with India. The visit highlights the growing economic engagement between India and European countries, with both sides seeking to expand cooperation beyond traditional trade into technology, investment, innovation and advanced industrial sectors.