Palazzo Trevisan to remain outpost of Swiss excellence in Venice

09.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal councillors Ignazio Cassis and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider announced in Venice today the future set-up for the Palazzo Trevisan. As of 1 January 2026, the main floor of the palace will be turned into a platform managed by the FDFA which will not only build on the palace's important role in promoting Swiss culture but will also incorporate new activities in the fields of innovation, research and sustainability. This development is the result of collaboration between the FDFA and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), with the dual aim of strengthening the Palazzo Trevisan as a vector of Swiss excellence in Venice, and of further enriching the dense network of relations between Switzerland and Italy.

International trade: Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin hold meetings with delegations from the United States and China

09.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
On Friday, 9 May 2025 in Geneva, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, and the Vice President of the Federal Council, Guy Parmelin, met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Prior to that, they met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

International cooperation: targeted Swiss support for UN agencies and International Geneva

08.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has decided the FDFA will grant CHF 39 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Women, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for 2025. By renewing these contributions, the FDFA is also sending out a strong signal in support of International Geneva.

Switzerland's contribution to democracy promotion – new FDFA guidelines

07.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 7 May 2025 the FDFA published the Guidelines on Democracy, which set out objectives for democracy promotion and identify foreign policy instruments for strengthening democratic processes and institutions.

Ignazio Cassis meets with Hungarian foreign minister in Bern

05.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, today received the Hungarian foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, in Bern for an official working visit. The talks centred on bilateral relations, European policy and current geopolitical issues.

Swiss–EU package: Federal Council calls for optional referendum

30.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 30 April 2025, the Federal Council took stock of the ongoing work on the Swiss–EU package. It decided to call an optional referendum on the agreements with the European Union (EU). In taking this decision, the Federal Council is signalling political continuity and coherence and giving Parliament and the cantons room for manoeuvre. Parliament will ultimately determine the nature of the referendum in the course of its deliberations.

Switzerland steps up its support for Africa

30.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
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.

Switzerland's international cooperation: FDFA provides core contributions for 22 Swiss implementation partners

25.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Swiss NGOs help implement the Federal Councillor’s International Cooperation Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with their expertise, knowledge of local contexts, and networks. For the 2025-2026 period, the SDC has earmarked core contributions totalling CHF 235 million for Switzerland’s contracting partners.

China: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis meets Foreign Minister Wang Yi and hails 75 years of bilateral relations

25.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
The head of Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, visited the People's Republic of China on 24 and 25 April 2025. His visit marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Switzerland established official relations with China in 1950, making it one of the first European countries to do so. In addition to an official meeting with China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, Mr Cassis' visit focused on efforts to modernise the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries in order to improve market access for Swiss companies.

Uzbekistan: inauguration of the first maternity units modernised thanks to Karimova assets returned by Switzerland

24.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Uzbekistan's first modernised maternity units were officially inaugurated today. The units were updated through a project funded by assets belonging to Gulnara Karimova, which had been definitively confiscated in Switzerland and restituted to the population of Uzbekistan. The aim of the USD 43.5 million project, implemented by the UN, is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates by strengthening the capacity of healthcare facilities and improving the monitoring and care of mothers-to-be, young mothers, and babies.

Innovation and trade at heart of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis's official visit to Japan

23.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis conducted an official visit to Japan on 22 and 23 April 2025, leading the Swiss delegation at the World Expo in Osaka on Switzerland's National Day. In Tokyo, he held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and representatives of Japan's commerce, science and education ministries as well as a meeting with IT giant NEC, which will be setting up a new centre in Zurich.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on official visit to Japan and China from 22 to 25 April 2025

17.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, will visit Japan and the People's Republic of China from 22 to 25 April. The aim of the trip is to strengthen political ties and promote Switzerland's economic interests with two key partners. In Japan, the focus will be on innovation, technology, trade and multilateral cooperation. In China, discussions will mainly cover bilateral relations, economic issues and current geopolitical questions.

Palazzo Trevisan to remain outpost of Swiss excellence in Venice

09.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal councillors Ignazio Cassis and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider announced in Venice today the future set-up for the Palazzo Trevisan. As of 1 January 2026, the main floor of the palace will be turned into a platform managed by the FDFA which will not only build on the palace's important role in promoting Swiss culture but will also incorporate new activities in the fields of innovation, research and sustainability. This development is the result of collaboration between the FDFA and the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), with the dual aim of strengthening the Palazzo Trevisan as a vector of Swiss excellence in Venice, and of further enriching the dense network of relations between Switzerland and Italy.

International trade: Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin hold meetings with delegations from the United States and China

09.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
On Friday, 9 May 2025 in Geneva, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Karin Keller-Sutter, and the Vice President of the Federal Council, Guy Parmelin, met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Prior to that, they met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

International cooperation: targeted Swiss support for UN agencies and International Geneva

08.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has decided the FDFA will grant CHF 39 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Women, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for 2025. By renewing these contributions, the FDFA is also sending out a strong signal in support of International Geneva.

Switzerland's contribution to democracy promotion – new FDFA guidelines

07.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 7 May 2025 the FDFA published the Guidelines on Democracy, which set out objectives for democracy promotion and identify foreign policy instruments for strengthening democratic processes and institutions.

Ignazio Cassis meets with Hungarian foreign minister in Bern

05.05.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, today received the Hungarian foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, in Bern for an official working visit. The talks centred on bilateral relations, European policy and current geopolitical issues.

Swiss–EU package: Federal Council calls for optional referendum

30.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
On 30 April 2025, the Federal Council took stock of the ongoing work on the Swiss–EU package. It decided to call an optional referendum on the agreements with the European Union (EU). In taking this decision, the Federal Council is signalling political continuity and coherence and giving Parliament and the cantons room for manoeuvre. Parliament will ultimately determine the nature of the referendum in the course of its deliberations.

Switzerland steps up its support for Africa

30.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
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.

Switzerland's international cooperation: FDFA provides core contributions for 22 Swiss implementation partners

25.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Swiss NGOs help implement the Federal Councillor’s International Cooperation Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with their expertise, knowledge of local contexts, and networks. For the 2025-2026 period, the SDC has earmarked core contributions totalling CHF 235 million for Switzerland’s contracting partners.

China: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis meets Foreign Minister Wang Yi and hails 75 years of bilateral relations

25.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
The head of Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, visited the People's Republic of China on 24 and 25 April 2025. His visit marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Switzerland established official relations with China in 1950, making it one of the first European countries to do so. In addition to an official meeting with China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, Mr Cassis' visit focused on efforts to modernise the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries in order to improve market access for Swiss companies.

Uzbekistan: inauguration of the first maternity units modernised thanks to Karimova assets returned by Switzerland

24.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Uzbekistan's first modernised maternity units were officially inaugurated today. The units were updated through a project funded by assets belonging to Gulnara Karimova, which had been definitively confiscated in Switzerland and restituted to the population of Uzbekistan. The aim of the USD 43.5 million project, implemented by the UN, is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates by strengthening the capacity of healthcare facilities and improving the monitoring and care of mothers-to-be, young mothers, and babies.

Innovation and trade at heart of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis's official visit to Japan

23.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis conducted an official visit to Japan on 22 and 23 April 2025, leading the Swiss delegation at the World Expo in Osaka on Switzerland's National Day. In Tokyo, he held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and representatives of Japan's commerce, science and education ministries as well as a meeting with IT giant NEC, which will be setting up a new centre in Zurich.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis on official visit to Japan and China from 22 to 25 April 2025

17.04.2025 — Press releases EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, will visit Japan and the People's Republic of China from 22 to 25 April. The aim of the trip is to strengthen political ties and promote Switzerland's economic interests with two key partners. In Japan, the focus will be on innovation, technology, trade and multilateral cooperation. In China, discussions will mainly cover bilateral relations, economic issues and current geopolitical questions.

Focus Story: Garbage speaks no language and has no political colour

12.12.2024 — Article Moldova
The village of Dezghingea from the autonomous administrative-territorial unit (ATU) of Gagauzia and the village of Cenac from Cimislia district seem to have little in common, except maybe for the 8 km long white stone road that connects them. Dezghingea is home to over 4,000 people and 1,400 households, with about 94% of the population identifying as Gagauz, according to the latest census. Cenac is almost three times smaller, with a population of around 1,600 people and some 500 households, and 98% of its residents identify as either Romanian or Moldovan. The inhabitants of the two villages have opposing political and geopolitical preferences. 

Invitation to tender: “Strengthening trust, integrity and compliance in and between SME’s and public sector in Moldova (STIC)”

02.07.2024 — Local news Moldova
We invite proposals for a facilitation unit to execute the first phase of SDC's STIC project in Moldova. This initiative aims to enhance trust, transform social norms, and strengthen integrity and compliance mechanisms in Moldova's agri-food and construction sectors, mitigating corruption risks and discouraging shadow economy practices. 

Call for Proposal: Assessing Moldova's Civil Society and Media Sectors

22.05.2024 — Local news Moldova
The Swiss Representation in Moldova (SR-M) is looking for two experienced consultants (one international and one national) to assess the civil society and mass-media sectors in Moldova. This assessment will help shape Swiss support in these areas for the 2025-2028 Swiss Cooperation Program for Moldova. 

Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Moldova (based in Kyiv) visited Chisinau in April 2024

08.04.2024 — Moldova
The Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Moldova (based in Kyiv), Félix Baumann, held several meetings and discussions with Moldovan officials on 8 April 2024 on occasion of his visit to Chisinau. He was accompanied by Guido Beltrani, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova.

Editorial: How to coherently promote crisis response, long-term development and social cohesion

07.12.2023 — Local news Moldova

by Guido Beltrani, director of Cooperation, Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova

The war in Ukraine affects the daily life of Moldovans in many ways. It creates a sense of insecurity, which was particularly acute in the first months of the war and still remains present despite apparently fading into the background. Any developments in the war there automatically become the top news story here. The war also caused a high inflation rate and a significant decrease in economic production; it led to a disruption in the energy supply, a spike in energy prices as well as to deeper divides and new tensions within the society. 

Call for proposal : Strengthening trust, integrity and compliance between and in SMEs and public sector in Moldova (STIC)

08.11.2023 — Local news Moldova
The Swiss Representation in Moldova (SR-M) plans a new project with the title Strengthening trust, integrity and compliance between and in SMEs and public sector in Moldova (STIC).

The Swiss Cooperation Office / Representation of the Embassy of Switzerland to the Republic of Moldova is looking for a National Programme Officer, Health (full-time).

26.07.2023 — Local news Moldova
Qualifications required:

Switzerland offers additional support package for Moldova

19.07.2023 — Local news Moldova
Switzerland has increased the budget for its programmes and projects in Moldova. The announcement was made by Guido Beltrani, director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Chisinau, during a meeting with Prime Minister Dorin Recean.

Statement - Moldova Pride Month 2023

08.06.2023 — Position Moldova
June is Pride Month, when we celebrate the vibrant LGBTQI+ community worldwide, commemorate the ongoing struggle for human rights, and renew our commitment to the inclusion, participation, and protection of all people irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Joint Statement on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in the Republic of Moldova

17.05.2023 — Position Moldova
On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which is celebrated today, we express our solidarity and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in the Republic of Moldova and around the world, many of whom continue to face discrimination, violence and hate speech on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and sex characteristics.

Vacancy announcement: Project Manager Health (80%)

18.04.2023 — Local news Moldova
The Swiss Cooperation Office (SCO) in Moldova is seeking applications from qualified candidates who are interested to join our team for a temporary position as Project Manager Health. The temporary position is foreseen for the duration of 10 months (1st June 2023 until 31st March 2024). The employment rate will be 80%. 

The governments of Switzerland and Germany support the development of the electronics industry in the Republic of Moldova

31.03.2023 — Local news Moldova
On 31 March, the official signing of the local grant agreement for the Association of Electronic Industry Companies of Moldova (ACEM) took place, underlining the commitment of the German Cooperation and the Government of Switzerland to the development and creation of higher value-added jobs in Moldova.