BERN: Minister of State for External Affairs Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi’s visit to Switzerland

BERN: Minister of State for External
Affairs and Culture (MoS) Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi paid an official visit to
Switzerland from 28-30 September, 2021. During her visit, she called on H.E.
Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation in Berne on September 29,
2021.

Both
sides discussed long-standing bilateral partnership and strong relations in
trade & investment, science & technology, culture &
people-to-people contacts.

MoS met Members of the Swiss Parliament and was Guest of Honour at the
inaugural NZZ Impact Finance Conference titled “infrastructure in emerging
markets – an engine of growth and real impact”. In the Conference she
spoke on the subject of “climate change, renewable energy and the
importance of foreign investment to support India’s ambitious climate
goal”.

She was the key note speaker at the 18th Annual
General Meeting (AGM) of the Swiss India Chamber of Commerce and addressed
members of the Indian Diaspora in Zurich.

MoS paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in Villeneuve and interacted
with Members of the leading international organisations based in Geneva. MoS
was the keynote speaker at the India@75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav event organised
at WIPO premises titled “A Celebration of the Splendid Saga of Indian
Sarees” with invitees from international community and display of Khadi
Tapestry.

MoS addressed the Indian Community members in an event organised in Zurich
which included release of a booklet titled “Mahatma Gandhi’s Swiss
Sojourn”. She also released a collection of short stories by women authors
of the diaspora. She also participated in a Yoga Event with leading Yoga
practitioners based in Switzerland.