'Principles established at India AI Impact Summit provide good guidance for global AI': Swiss President Guy Parmelin

Public Lokpal
February 18, 2026

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'Principles established at India AI Impact Summit provide good guidance for global AI': Swiss President Guy Parmelin

New Delhi: Swiss President Guy Parmelin has expressed strong support for India's vision of a safe, inclusive, and impactful artificial intelligence ecosystem, emphasising alignment on human-centric, sustainable, and equitable Al development during his participation in the ongoing India Al Impact Summit 2026.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, President Parmelin welcomed the summit's focus, stating, "Switzerland very much welcomes and supports the focus of the Al Impact Summit which is well presented in the three Sutras: People, Progress, Planet: We fully agree that we need to develop and use Al in a way that everyone the world can benefit from the potential that Al offers. This includes economic an societal progress for everyone. At the same time we need to make sure that we respect our planet as the basis of all lives and that Al is developed and used in a sustainable way."

Highlighting Switzerland's admiration for India's growing prowess in Al, he outlined promising areas for future collaboration.

"We admire how India has developed into a powerful player in Al research and innovation. Switzerland sees significant potential for deepening collaboration wit India," Parmelin said.

He added, "I am delighted to see Swiss startups here at the summit bringing bold ideas, cutting edge technologies, and a strong spirit of innovation to explore new opportunities for collaboration with Indian partners."

On responsible Al, he noted shared values, saying, "With respect to responsible innovation in Al, Switzerland and India share the common belief that we need to ensure that Al is used for the public good--supporting inclusive economic growth, social progress, sustainability, and solutions that benefit society at large. We attac great importance to close cooperation with India in the developments regarding the creation of international and multilateral agreements on the governance of Al President Parmelin further noted that the outcomes of the India Al Impact Summ 2026 will play a crucial role in shaping the agenda for the next global gathering, which Switzerland is expected to hold in 2027.

"Switzerland thinks that the principles established at the Al Impact Summit here i Delhi provide good guidance for international collaboration: development of human capital; broadening access for social empowerment; trustworthiness of Al systems; energy efficiency of Al systems; use of Al in science; democratizing Al resources; and use of Al for economic growth and social good," he explained.

"These should also feed into the global dialogue on Al which the UN will organize this summer in Geneva. In addition, we will also build on the structures for voluntary cooperation established in Delhi to advance these principles," he added.

On the broader bilateral economic partnership, bolstered by the recently concluded India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), Parmelin highlighted enhanced market access benefits for Swiss exports and services.

"India grants Switzerland significantly improved market access for around 95% of current Swiss exports (not including gold). Swiss watches and most categories of machinery already benefit from zero duty access, and a substantial share of chemical products is likewise treated favourably," he said.

"Regarding services, Switzerland benefits from improved access for its financial sector, where India now allows higher foreign equity limits and clearer licensing procedures. The agreement also facilitates the temporary entry of installation and maintenance specialists, enabling Swiss firms to support their equipment locally," he further noted.

Addressing the evolution of global Al governance, Parmelin stressed joint efforts to promote safe, transparent, and inclusive norms while prioritising innovation.

"Switzerland has been very actively participating in many international fora that develop binding and non-binding technical, legal and ethical standards for the development and use of Al. Switzerland is willing to continue to closely cooperate with India in all of these fields," he affirmed.

He highlighted Switzerland's leadership in the Council of Europe framework convention on Al, describing it as "the first international legally binding treaty on Al and offers not only a legal instrument, but a framework for global cooperation regarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law when it comes to Al."

"While more and more countries from the global south, including Brazil, have joined the process, we would like to encourage India to consider joining this work, too. And of course, we look forward to working with India to shape the upcoming UN dialogue on Al," Parmelin concluded.

The remarks underscore deepening India-Switzerland cooperation in Al governance, research, innovation, and multilateral frameworks, building on the momentum of the India All Impact Summit 2026 (ANI)