NEW DELHI: India and Switzerland discussed on Friday various aspects of bilateral ties, including the issue of curbing black money, as well as regional and multilateral issues during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, the two ministers took stock of the progress made in key areas of interest such as trade and investment, education, information technology and tourism, reports IANS.
Bilateral trade between India and Switzerland stood at $20 billion in the last financial year.
“Closer cooperation in the areas of skill development, renewable energy, traditional Indian medicine and climate change has the potential of mutual benefit and positive contribution at the global level,” the statement said.
Following on the Indian government’s drive to curb black money, the ministers discussed the activation of automatic exchange of information.
India’s negotiations with the EU for a free trade agreement also came up in the discussion.
Both sides also had detailed talks on Ayurveda, which Switzerland recognizes as a system of medicine.