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SECO's economic development cooperation

SECO implements Switzerland’s economic and trade policy measures. It also works in developing countries, where it promotes socially, environmentally and climate-friendly economic growth with more and better jobs across all sectors of the population.

18 June 2025

SECO Position Paper Sustainable Tourism Development

SECO Economic Cooperation and Development

PDF3.40 MB

7 February 2024

Development and Climate Change: Two Sides of the Same Coin

SECO’s Economic Cooperation and Development’s Approach to Climate Change

PDF7.68 MB

18 June 2025

More and better jobs as a cornerstone of development

Poverty reduction through jobs

PDF6.08 MB

30 June 2025

Switzerland attends 4th International Conference on Financing for Development

Switzerland will be participating in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. Organised under the auspices of the United Nations, this global event aims to address financing challenges in order to help achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals. The conference will cover a wide range of issues relating to development policy, environmental, economic and social sustainability, and macroeconomics. The Swiss delegation is being led by Patricia Danzi, director general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

25 June 2025

Bilateral agreement with Ukraine

At its meeting on 25 June, the Federal Council approved the draft of a bilateral cooperation agreement between Switzerland and Ukraine on reconstruction of the country. The draft agreement would establish the legal basis for closer involvement of the Swiss private sector in Ukraine's reconstruction process. This agreement will be signed at the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Rome. Once signed, the Federal Council will initiate a consultation procedure and submit a corresponding dispatch to the Swiss parliament for ratification.

23 June 2025

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin signs free trade agreement with Malaysia

On 23 June, on the sidelines of the EFTA Ministerial Conference in Tromsø, Norway, a free trade agreement was signed by Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and representatives of fellow EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway with the Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Tengku Zafrul Aziz.

16 June 2025

OECD publishes development cooperation peer review on Switzerland

On 16 June 2025, the OECD published its latest development cooperation peer review on Switzerland. The peer review takes place as part of a regular review process that the 33 members of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) undergo every six years. The report recognises the continuous development of Swiss international cooperation and formulates recommendations.

21 May 2025

Federal Council to strengthen SIFEM AG with additional share capital

On 21 May, the Federal Council decided to increase the capital of SIFEM AG by CHF 75 million. This will enable the federal development finance institution to stabilise its investment volume at CHF 150 million.

12 May 2025

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin on a working visit to Poland

Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin will visit Poland on 14 and 15 May. During his visit he will sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in education, research and innovation (ERI). Bilateral ministerial meetings are also planned, focusing on ERI and business. The programme will conclude with a visit to the renowned Impact'25 innovation fair.

30 April 2025

Switzerland steps up its support for Africa

The Federal Council wants to contribute towards increasing the guarantee capital of the African Development Bank (AfDB). It is requesting Parliament to approve a guarantee credit of CHF 1.56 billion, as decided on 30 April. This would strengthen Switzerland's influence in the AfDB and help to further sustainable and inclusive economic development in Africa.

Contact

Economic Cooperation and Development - State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Holzikofenweg 36
Switzerland - 3003 Berne