Europa Star: The trade deal between Switzerland (as one of the EFTA countries) and India comes into effect from October. In your opinion, to what extent can it boost Swiss watch exports to India?

Patrick Aoun: India is a vast country with a young population, and there is definite interest in Swiss watch brands. Beyond the question of import duties, it offers important opportunities for Longines which can build up its presence in India and meet growing demand.

China and the US, which are traditionally robust markets for Swiss watches, are facing headwinds. In the light of your experience, can India offer a possible alternative?

Not so much an alternative as a complement. The United States and China are still essential markets. Meanwhile, India is increasingly emerging as a strategic market. It has a fast-growing middle class, attaches great prestige to Swiss brands such as Longines, and younger generations are genuinely curious about watches. India is a growing market that will play an increasingly important role in the diversification of Swiss industry as a whole.

What evolution has there been since 2017, particularly for distribution?

Things have changed a lot in the almost ten years since I began my role in India. From highly fragmented, distribution networks have become more professional and we’ve opened new mono-brand boutiques, thanks to which brands such as Longines can better convey their image and provide a more coherent customer experience.

Patrick Aoun

What is Longines’ position in this market, both in the past and today?

Longines and India go back a long way: we’ve been selling our watches in India since 1878 and share a strong connection, built over many years. India is experiencing remarkable growth and Longines enjoys an excellent reputation, fuelled by our history and by our current collections. India is an important market for us, with strong potential.

What are your strategic priorities for Longines, in India and the rest of the world?

My priority is simple: reinforce our position as the leader in our price segment while respecting our identity and our “Elegance is an attitude” slogan. This implies strong collections, the highest quality, close collaboration with our partners and an irreproachable customer experience.