Published on 13 March 2026

Bilateral relations Switzerland – Côte d'Ivoire

Switzerland and Côte d'Ivoire enjoy excellent bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of trade, scientific, cultural and migration cooperation.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Switzerland and Côte d'Ivoire have close ties in the field of scientific research and innovation, with the creation of the Centre suisse de recherches scientifiques in 1951.

Economic relations are very dynamic and, in its strategy for Africa 2025–28, Switzerland highlights Côte d'Ivoire's strong economic potential, underpinned by its political and economic stability.

In 2025, the two countries signed a bilateral agreement on cultural property, the first of its kind between Switzerland and a sub-Saharan African country.

• Africa Strategy 2025–2028

  On 20 December 2024, the Federal Council adopted its new Strategy for Africa 2025–2028. Peace and security, prosperity and competitiveness, as well as the environment, democracy and governance are the priorities of the strategy. In view of the growing political and economic importance of the African continent, Switzerland intends to strengthen its partnerships with the continent in the interests of both sides.

  PDF3.82 MB6 March 2026

Treaty database

Migration

Economic cooperation

In 2024, Côte d'Ivoire was Switzerland's fourth largest trading partner on the African continent. This partnership is therefore of key importance. Switzerland was Côte d'Ivoire's second-largest export market, with exports consisting mainly of gold and cocoa.

In view of the challenges facing the important cocoa industry, SECO launched the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa in 2017 to support the sector.

Nearly 50 Swiss companies are active in various sectors. In 2026, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Côte d'Ivoire (‘SwissCham Côte d'Ivoire’) was officially established, providing a platform for Swiss companies in the country to exchange information.

Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise SGE

Cooperation in education, research and innovation

Bilateral scientific cooperation is very good.

The Centre suisse de recherches scientifiques in Côte d'Ivoire (CSRS) in Abidjan, a key player in tropical research, celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2026.

Researchers who are citizens of Côte d'Ivoire can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

Centre suisse de recherches scientifiques in Côte d'Ivoire

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (SERI)

Peace support and human security

Preventing violent extremism is a priority of Switzerland's foreign policy. In 2023, Switzerland supported targeted activities of the International Academy for the fight Against Racism (AILCT in its French acronym) as part of its civil peacebuilding effort. This support financed two studies on violent extremism in Africa, the results of which were presented in 2025.

Cultural exchanges

In 2025, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider signed an agreement on cultural property in Côte d'Ivoire. In particular, the agreement regulates the legal conditions for importing cultural property into the two countries, sets out the procedures for repatriating illegally imported goods and promotes cooperation in the preservation of cultural heritage. In the same spirit of collaboration, the two countries jointly inaugurated Côte d'Ivoire's first archaeological museum, a project supported financially by Switzerland.

Swiss citizens in Côte d'Ivoire

According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, 299 Swiss citizens were living in Côte d'Ivoire at the end of 2024 and 1,875 Ivorian citizens were living in Switzerland.

The Amicale Suisse de Côte d'Ivoire, which has been active since the 1980s, organises numerous events for Swiss nationals and friends of Switzerland.

History of bilateral relations

Switzerland recognised Côte d'Ivoire's independence on 7 August 1960 and opened an embassy in Abidjan in 1961. A vice-consulate had already been based there since 1952. Since 1962, political stability and economic prospects have fostered a number of bilateral agreements on trade, investment protection and technical cooperation.

Between 1984 and 1990, five agreements were signed on the revaluation of Ivorian debt, and in 1991 Switzerland supported the renovation of five hydroelectric power stations.

In 2021, three migration agreements signed between the two countries strengthened cooperation in this area, particularly in the fight against illegal migration.

Côte d’Ivoire, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)

Diplomatic documents of Switzerland, Dodis

Liens

• Treaty database
• Migration
• Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise SGE
• Centre suisse de recherches scientifiques in Côte d'Ivoire
• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (SERI)
• Côte d’Ivoire, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)
• Diplomatic documents of Switzerland, Dodis

Documents

• Africa Strategy 2025–2028

  On 20 December 2024, the Federal Council adopted its new Strategy for Africa 2025–2028. Peace and security, prosperity and competitiveness, as well as the environment, democracy and governance are the priorities of the strategy. In view of the growing political and economic importance of the African continent, Switzerland intends to strengthen its partnerships with the continent in the interests of both sides.

  PDF3.82 MB6 March 2026

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