The Federal Council will welcome President Ramaphosa with military honours on the Bundesplatz on Wednesday, 29 October, followed by speeches and political discussions. The Swiss delegation will include President Keller-Sutter, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin (Vice President of the Federal Council and head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research), Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis (head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs), and Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs).
The talks will focus on the excellent and diverse bilateral relations between the two countries. As Africa's largest economy, the current G20 chair, and a member of both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), South Africa is a key partner for Switzerland.
The agenda includes bilateral economic relations, economic development cooperation, and the modernisation of the EFTA–SACU free trade agreement. Cooperation in science, research and culture will also be on the table.
On Thursday, 30 October, the second day of the state visit will focus on business and vocational education and training. President Keller-Sutter and President Ramaphosa will visit an industrial firm in eastern Switzerland and a vocational school.
Cooperation across numerous sectors
President Ramaphosa's visit – the first by a South African head of state to Switzerland – underscores the strength of ties between the two countries. With bilateral trade in goods worth CHF 3.6 billion in 2024, South Africa is Switzerland's second-largest trading partner in Africa, while Switzerland regularly ranks among the ten largest foreign investors in South Africa.
South Africa has been a priority country for economic cooperation with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) since 2009. Under the cooperation programme for 2025–2028, Switzerland and South Africa aim to deepen this partnership further, with the goal of accelerating the transformation towards a more competitive, sustainable and inclusive economy.
The two countries already enjoy vibrant cultural exchanges. South Africa is also Switzerland's most important partner on the African continent in science, research and technology. Switzerland's accession to the international Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) in 2022 has deepened cooperation in space and radio astronomy. Switzerland is involved in establishing the SKAO's presence in South Africa, one of two sites hosting the world's largest radio telescope.
Further information:
https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/south-africa/en/home/switzerland-and/bilateral-relations.html
Address for enquiries:
Federal Department of Finance FDF Communications FDF +41 58 462 60 33 media@gs-efd.admin.ch
