The President Pratibha Devisingh Patil left New Delhi on Friday on a two nation tour of Switzerland and Austria. In her departure statement, Mrs. Patil said the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Austria are two important partners of India in Central Europe with whom India share core values of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human dignity.

Mrs. Patil said her visit is part of the process of maintaining high level engagement with these friendly countries. In her first engagement the President Patil would visit the European Council for Nuclear Research, one of the world's largest and most reputed centres for scientific research. India is an observer Member State to CERN, in which about 200 Indian /Indian origin scientists are working.

In Berne Mrs. Patil would have wide-ranging discussions with President Calmy-Rey and other members of the Federal Council of Switzerland. During President Calmy-Rey's visit in 2007, the two sides had discussed the need to elevate the bilateral relationship to the level of a Privileged Partnership.
The President will also unveil the bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at the University of Lausanne on October 4, 2011 where a “Tagore Chair” on Indian Studies is also being set up.

In Vienna, the President's engagements include delegation-level discussions with the Austrian President Mr. Heinz Fischer and meetings with the Austrian Chancellor Mr. Werner Faymann and the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament, Ms. Barbara Prammer.

AIR correspondent reports, Indian firms have begun to invest in Switzerland and Austria, using their location as a gateway to Europe. An Indian business delegation will be in Geneva and Vienna during Presidents visit, to explore trade and investment opportunities.