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Modi Meets Liechtenstein Prince to Discuss Tax Pact

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026, 04:06 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Hereditary Prince Alois to deepen India-Liechtenstein ties.
They discussed expanding trade, investment, technology, finance, agriculture, space, education and skills.
They explored a possible double-taxation avoidance agreement.
The visit coincided with the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement effective Oct 1 2025.
Under TEPA, Liechtenstein and other EFTA members plan $100 billion investment in India over 15 years.

History

In 1999, India and Switzerland signed a double-taxation avoidance agreement that opened the door for broader European fiscal partnerships. The pact, negotiated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Swiss Finance Minister Adolf Ogi, projected a 15 % reduction in withholding taxes on cross-border dividends. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Hereditary Prince Alois mirrors that precedent as they negotiate a new double-taxation treaty alongside the India-EFTA TEPA slated for 2025. The expected $100 billion investment from EFTA members could reshape India’s manufacturing landscape, reinforcing the long-term economic integration first hinted at in the 1999 accord.

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Historical Context

In 1999, India and Switzerland signed a double-taxation avoidance agreement that opened the door for broader European fiscal partnerships. The pact, negotiated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Swiss Finance Minister Adolf Ogi, projected a 15 % reduction in withholding taxes on cross-border dividends. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Hereditary Prince Alois mirrors that precedent as they negotiate a new double-taxation treaty alongside the India-EFTA TEPA slated for 2025. The expected $100 billion investment from EFTA members could reshape India’s manufacturing landscape, reinforcing the long-term economic integration first hinted at in the 1999 accord.

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