Liechtenstein's Prince Alois Begins State Visit to India
Royal Arrival in Gujarat
File image of PM Modi and Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois(Photo: IANS)
Vadodara, Oct 26: Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and his spouse, Princess Sofia, touched down in Gujarat on Monday as part of their state visit to India, receiving a warm reception at Vadodara Airport.
They were welcomed by Gujarat’s Minister of State Prafulbhai Pansheriya along with other senior officials. Following their arrival, the royal couple's convoy proceeded to a company located in Manjusar.
Earlier that day, Prince Alois had arrived in Mumbai for the state visit, which was extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Accompanying him were Princess Sofia and a distinguished delegation of officials and business leaders from various industries.
“A warm welcome to India! H.S.H. Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein arrived in Mumbai on a State Visit to India. He was received by Shri Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Protocol, Government of Maharashtra. India and Liechtenstein enjoy warm and cordial relations, founded on shared values,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on X.
This marks Prince Alois's second visit to India in 2026, having previously attended the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February. His earlier visits to India occurred in 2010 and 2018.
Ceremonial Events and Discussions
On Tuesday, Prince Alois is set to receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is scheduled to meet with him, and the Prince will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
Later, he will engage in discussions with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House, focusing on collaboration in various fields such as trade, investment, science, technology, innovation, and cultural exchanges, as well as regional and global issues, according to the MEA.
On Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister of State for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary will also meet with Prince Alois.
Additionally, the Prince will have an audience with President Droupadi Murmu, who will host an official banquet in his honor.
The visit aims to enhance the growing relationship between India and Liechtenstein, especially following the implementation of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement in 2025. It presents an opportunity to strengthen friendly ties and explore new areas of mutual interest, as stated by the MEA.