Strengthening partnership

27.10.2023 - SECO met with government representatives, the Swiss business community, and economic development partners to enhance bilateral economic relations and promote sustainable economic growth.

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Sustainable wastewater treatment plant awarded

26.10.2023 - InfraWatt has awarded a SECO-funded wastewater treatment plant in North Macedonia the «Médaille d’eau» medal of honour. The award rewards operators who use energy efficiently, produce renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plant in Kotchani treats the wastewater of 65,000 people. It generates energy from biogas, sewage sludge and a solar power unit.  

Switzerland launches tax programme for developing countries

18.10.2023 - The Federal Council decided that Switzerland will provide up to CHF 28.5 million in the period to 2028 in order to support developing countries in reforming their tax systems. The appropriate Swiss Tax Programme for Development will continue SECO's previous work on taxation in developing countries and bundles its main activities in the tax field into a lighthouse project. The Programme is specifically supporting Ukraine.

World Bank Group Reforms taking shape

12.10.2023 - At its Annual Meeting in Morocco, the World Bank Group (WBG) made progress on reform efforts to ensure it can better respond to global challenges like climate change, pandemics or fragility in the future. Switzerland supports the reform process. It advocates the importance of strategic partnerships and enhanced coordination.  

State Secretary visits Colombia and Peru

06.10.2023 - State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda visited two of SECO's priority countries for economic cooperation. The cooperation programmes played an important role in the discussions with public and private partners, underlining SECO’s commitment to promoting sustainable development and a competitive and innovative private sector.

Delegations from four EU countries find inspiration for sustainable tourism on visit to Swiss National Park

15.09.2023 - Switzerland has gained valuable experience with national parks, sustainable tourism and biodiversity conservation. It is now sharing this knowledge with partner states as part of the second Swiss contribution, including the recent study trip that SECO and its partners organised for experts from Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Estonia.

25 million to support Ukraine and Moldova

29.06.2023 - Switzerland announces a contribution of 25 million Swiss Francs to support Ukraine and Moldova as part of the International Development Association (IDA) Special Program for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery. This complements Switzerland’s 725 million USD contribution to last year’s twentieth IDA USD 93 billion record replenishment for the world’s poorest countries.

Sustainable economic growth

20.06.2023 - The FDFA and the EAER have launched a consultation on their joint IC Strategy 2025 to 2028. Interested parties can now express their views on the objectives and priorities. SECO is responsible for international economic cooperation. It uses its specific expertise to support its partner countries in their sustainable economic development. Switzerland has earmarked CHF 11.45 billion for IC between 2025 and 2028.

The new annual report is out

15.06.2023 - Faces, stories, facts and figures: The SECO and SDC multimedia annual report reviews the year 2022. The impact of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, rising energy prices, food shortages, debt crisis and inflation – 2002 was replete with major challenges. Switzerland made an important contribution to overcome these pressing issues and provide specific assistance.

Learn about Switzerland's multilateral engagement in a multimedia environment

27.04.2023 - Multilateral development banks support countries in overcoming challenges such as climate change, pandemics and economic crises and in developing in a climate-friendly, resilient and inclusive way. In a multimedia environment, you can learn how Switzerland is supporting development banks in this endeavour.

4'274 billion Swiss francs or 0.56 percent

12.04.2023 - In 2022, Swiss official development assistance (ODA) amounted to CHF 4.274 billion, with asylum-related costs in Switzerland accounting for more than a quarter of that total. Excluding these asylum costs, the ODA/GNI ratio was 0.40%.

World Bank Group Reform to better manage the Multiple Crises

At the World Bank Group (WBG) Spring Meeting, the focus was on managing multiple crises, in particular the war in Ukraine and its effects, climate change, the debt situation of developing and emerging countries. The WBG has launched a reform process to better address the development challenges. Switzerland supports the reform.

Decommissioned trams from Zurich sent to Vinnitsa

15.03.2023 - SECO and the Zurich Transport Authority are to deliver 35 decommissioned trams of the type Tram2000 to the Ukrainian city of Vinnitsa, where they will be used for a further 12 to 15 years. SECO and the city of Vinnitsa have been working together for many years within the framework of economic cooperation in the areas of public transport, spatial planning and energy efficiency. Press release (PDF, 226 kB, 14.03.2023) (only available in German)

SECO and EBRD reaffirm their cooperation

21.02.2023 - At their partnership meeting in London, SECO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine. The two partners also emphasized the importance of supporting the private sector and building partnerships between development actors to address climate change and global crises.

Switzerland supports more and better jobs

16.02.2023 - Switzerland's economic development cooperation is funding a programme in Moldova to create more and better jobs. The programme is implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in response to an urgent request from the Moldovan government.

 

Decommissioned trams from Zurich sent to Vinnitsa

15.03.2023 - SECO and the Zurich Transport Authority are to deliver 35 decommissioned trams of the type Tram2000 to the Ukrainian city of Vinnitsa, where they will be used for a further 12 to 15 years. SECO and the city of Vinnitsa have been working together for many years within the framework of economic cooperation in the areas of public transport, spatial planning and energy efficiency. Press release (PDF, 226 kB, 14.03.2023) (only available in German)

Education4Future

03.02.2023 - Une formation de base et une formation continue de qualité sont déterminantes pour le développement durable. C'est pourquoi le International Cooperation Forum Switzerland, qui se tiendra les 15 et 16 février à Genève, aura pour thème "Education4Future". Le SECO encourage la transmission de compétences professionnelles répondant aux besoins du marché au niveau de la formation supérieure.

Urban development in Sousse

19.01.2023 - SECO works with authorities and stakeholders to design forward-looking strategies for cities. In Sousse, SECO is providing financial and technical support to the authorities during various stages of urban development, from planning and developing sustainable strategies to financing investments and implementing projects.