External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, called on Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein during the latter's historic State Visit to India, with discussions centred on bilateral ties and the expanding opportunities under the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). The meeting marks a significant diplomatic moment — Liechtenstein's first-ever state visit to India.

Jaishankar's Remarks on Bilateral Momentum

Taking to X, Jaishankar said it was 'a pleasure to call on H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, on a State Visit to India,' adding that 'our bilateral partnership is witnessing strong momentum across a wide range of domains, driven by the opportunities enabled by India-EFTA TEPA.' He also expressed anticipation for the Prince's scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House later in the day, describing it as an opportunity 'to advance our cooperation.'

A Ceremonial Welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Earlier on Tuesday, Prince Alois was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi received him warmly. The Prince arrived in New Delhi from Vadodara, Gujarat, on Monday and was received at the airport by Union Minister of State Jayant Singh. He was accompanied by his wife, Princess Sofia, senior officials, and a business delegation of top industry leaders.

Prince Alois on TEPA and Economic Cooperation

Speaking to reporters, Prince Alois described the visit as historic and said he was 'very honoured to be in India on the occasion of Liechtenstein's first state visit to this remarkable country.' He called the India-EFTA TEPA — which entered into force approximately a year ago — a 'significant milestone' in strengthening ties. 'We are determined to build on this momentum and strengthen our ties with India even further,' he said. The Prince identified 'tremendous potential' in economic cooperation spanning innovation, advanced manufacturing, financial services, education, and technology, noting complementary strengths on both sides.

High-Level Engagements Lined Up

The diplomatic calendar for the visit is extensive. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary are both scheduled to call on Prince Alois on Tuesday. President Murmu is also set to host an official banquet in the Prince's honour. Talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House are expected to cover trade and investment, science, technology and innovation, people-to-people exchanges, and regional and global developments.

Significance of the EFTA TEPA Framework

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted in a statement that the visit 'is expected to provide further impetus to the growing engagement between India and Liechtenstein, particularly since the operationalisation of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement in 2025.' Liechtenstein is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which also includes Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. The TEPA's entry into force last year opened a new institutional channel for deepening economic ties that both sides are now looking to fully utilise. This comes amid India's broader push to diversify its trade partnerships beyond its traditional bilateral agreements.