Indo Swiss Ezine


		H.E. Philipe Welti, Ambassador of Switzerland to India, was in Mumbai to attend a seminar on a Vocational Education and Training (VET) Initiative launched by the Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce (SICC) in aiming at bringing the Swiss Dual-Track Vocational System to this country. Indo-Swiss Business caught up with Ambassador Welti, who has taken up his new assignment in this country when India and Switzerland are celebrating the 60th Anniversary of their Friendship Treaty, for an exclusive interview. Excerpts.

What do you think of the next 60 years, in terms of relations between India, the largest democracy and Switzerland, a small democracy?
We have completed the first sixty years and the second sixty years starts with 61st year. And the motto for the relationship for 61st year is Science and Education. And it's not a joke. It's our official relationship. A motto is a motto. It's not just a word. But for us a motto is a mission and commitment. What we can do now is to show what we mean by motto and how concrete and serious we are about the Vocational Education Training project.

That is the beginning of the second sixty years and rest of the second sixty years will be marked by what we do for this VET project. So if we can sustain the impetus, the partnership, to do one good and right thing. But to sustain the good thing is a challenge. And really it's the dream to come together in these 60 years and celebrate the solid existence of Swiss-Indian co-operation in the field of vocational education training with mutual recognition of diplomas and everything; also lively exchange of people in professional fields. So that is going to be our dream for the next 60 years which is going to be started with this project.

Switzerland is well advanced in vocational training and India is still at the nascent stage. How Switzerland can help us to spread the message of vocational education training in India?
Imagine for one moment, that when the training gets started, there is promotion of skills and turning round skilled people goes beyond the pilot project of a few people. Imagine for one moment, what it is to spread the project to 100-1000 students. With this deep driving force this project can further the economic development of your country.