Relations between Switzerland and the Republic of Moldova are good and focus primarily on technical cooperation and questions related to migration.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Moldova
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has had a cooperation office in the Moldovan capital since 2000. The Swiss ambassador in Kiev is accredited in Chisinau. The Republic of Moldova is represented in Switzerland through its Mission at the international organisations in Geneva. The Moldovan Mission Head has a double accreditation.
Economic cooperation
The volume of trade between Switzerland and Moldova is relatively low. Switzerland exports primarily pharmaceutical, chemical and agricultural products, and machines; it imports agricultural products and a limited quantity of clothing and textiles, as well as vehicles and aircraft.
Cooperation in the domain of education
Scholars and artists from the Republic of Moldova can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
In 2008, the SDC terminated its humanitarian-aid programme to concentrate fully on technical cooperation. Switzerland’s 2014-17 cooperation strategy for Moldova includes CHF 54 million for technical cooperation, with the programme focus being placed on the areas of water and health-care.
Swiss nationals in the Republic of Moldova
At the end of 2013 there were 28 Swiss nationals living in the Republic of Moldova.
History of bilateral relations
In the 19th century large numbers of Swiss people, among them many wine-growers from the Vaud, emigrated to Bessarabia (today the Republic of Moldova).
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Switzerland established diplomatic relations with the newly-founded Republic of Moldova in 1992. From 2000 to 2008 the SDC maintained a cooperation office for humanitarian aid in Chisinau, from 2005 this was supplemented by technical cooperation. Throughout these nine years Switzerland's humanitarian aid focused primarily on the renovation of nursing homes and psychiatric clinics, as well as on providing emergency aid and supplying powdered milk to social institutions.
Entry in the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)
