Time
Live Business City Clocks
Business Hours Overlap
India: Mon–Sat 9:30 AM–6:30 PM IST | Switzerland: Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM CET/CEST
Switzerland (CET UTC+1 winter, CEST UTC+2 summer) shares the same timezone as Germany and Netherlands. Business overlap falls in India's afternoon, with summer (CEST) offering a wider window.
Switzerland (CET UTC+1 winter, CEST UTC+2 summer) shares the same timezone as Germany and Netherlands. Business overlap falls in India's afternoon, with summer (CEST) offering a wider window.
IST ↔ Switzerland Quick Reference
| 🇮🇳 IST | CET | CEST |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM IST | 3:30 AM CET | 4:30 AM CEST |
| 11:30 AM IST | 7:00 AM CET | 8:00 AM CEST |
| 1:30 PM IST | 9:00 AM CET | 10:00 AM CEST |
| 3:30 PM IST | 11:00 AM CET | 12:00 PM CEST |
| 6:30 PM IST | 2:00 PM CET | 3:00 PM CEST |
| 9:00 PM IST | 4:30 PM CET | 5:30 PM CEST |
Key Commercial Ports
🇮🇳 India
| Port | City | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNPT / Nhava Sheva | Mumbai | 24×7 | Container gateway; pharma and gems to Swiss airports via Rotterdam/Frankfurt |
| Mundra Port | Gujarat | 24×7 | Chemical & specialty goods for Swiss chemical industry |
🇨🇭 Switzerland
| Port | City | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Basel (Rhine) | Basel | Mon–Fri 7AM–6PM | Switzerland's only inland port; Rhine barge connection to Rotterdam; chemical & pharma goods |
| Zurich Airport Cargo | Zurich | 24×7 | Switzerland's main cargo airport; gold bullion, watches, pharma — high-value India imports |
| Geneva Airport Cargo | Geneva | 24×7 | Watches, luxury goods, humanitarian goods; Geneva Freeport for gold storage |
* Most major international ports operate 24×7 for vessel operations; customs clearance and gate hours vary. Always verify with the port authority or your freight forwarder.
Top Traded Goods
🇮🇳 India Exports to Switzerland
- Diamonds & rough gems (sent for cutting in India)
- Pharmaceuticals & bulk APIs
- Organic chemicals
- Cotton & textiles
- Engineering goods
- IT services
🇮🇳 India Imports from Switzerland
- Gold (refined bullion — 70–80% of bilateral trade value)
- Watches & precision instruments (Rolex, Swatch, Omega)
- Pharmaceuticals (Novartis, Roche)
- Specialty chemicals & dyes
- Machinery & scientific instruments
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between India and Switzerland?
In winter (CET, late October–late March), India (IST, UTC+5:30) is 4 hours 30 minutes ahead of Switzerland (CET, UTC+1). In summer (CEST, late March–late October), the difference narrows to 3 hours 30 minutes.
Why does India import so much gold from Switzerland?
Switzerland is the world's largest gold refining centre — about 70% of global gold refining happens there. India, the world's 2nd largest gold consumer, imports refined gold bars (predominantly 995/999 purity) from Swiss refiners including Valcambi, PAMP, and Argor-Heraeus. Gold/silver routinely accounts for 70–80% of the official India–Switzerland trade figure.
What Swiss pharmaceutical companies are active in India?
Novartis and Roche (both Basel-based) are Switzerland's largest pharma investors in India. Novartis has manufacturing in Hyderabad; Roche sells diagnostics and oncology drugs across India. Swiss companies also source active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from Indian manufacturers.
What are the best hours to contact Switzerland from India?
In winter (CET): Call 1:30–6:30 PM IST (9:00 AM–2:00 PM CET). In summer (CEST): Call 11:30 AM–6:30 PM IST (9:00 AM–4:00 PM CEST). Summer is more convenient for live meetings.