Ignazio Cassis takes the new FDFA strategies to Africa
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will be on an official visit to Africa from 7 to 13 February 2021. He will travel to Algeria, Mali, Senegal and The Gambia, where he will meet with government representatives to discuss implementation of the recently adopted FDFA strategies for the MENA region and sub-Saharan Africa. These set out Switzerland's future engagement in the two regions. Efforts will focus on four thematic areas derived from the Foreign Policy Strategy: peace, security and human rights; prosperity; sustainability; and digitalisation.
The Swiss foreign minister, Ignazio Cassis, is travelling to Africa to raise awareness of the recently adopted FDFA strategies on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and sub-Saharan Africa. Between 7 and 13 February 2021, he will visit four countries: Algeria, Mali, Senegal and The Gambia, where he will meet with government officials, UN organisations and Swiss representatives on the ground to present and discuss implementation. The two strategies, which will run until 2023, aim to make the Swiss foreign policy instruments of diplomacy, economic development and international cooperation work together more effectively. Through its international cooperation, for example, Switzerland works with the private sector to create decent jobs in developing countries and help boost their economies. Through its trade diplomacy, Switzerland negotiates optimal economic conditions which open up export markets for these countries and enable their economies to diversify further. The two FDFA strategies complement and are aligned with one another. This ensures Switzerland's foreign policy activities are more effective, avoids any overlaps and harnesses synergies between the bodies of the Swiss Confederation involved and external partners.
The image of Africa as a continent of poverty and conflict is one that has endured for years. Yet it ignores the fact that Africa has tremendous political, economic, cultural and scientific potential despite the major challenges it undoubtedly faces. «Many new opportunities are emerging in Africa» is how the head of the FDFA sums up this trend. Over the past two decades sub-Saharan Africa as a whole has achieved impressive economic growth of up to 6.5%. By way of comparison, growth in Switzerland stood at 1.1% in 2019.
The two new strategies, which the Swiss foreign minister will present during his official visit to Africa, address the various challenges but also these opportunities. By supporting the countries' efforts to overcome hurdles, Switzerland helps to build a stronger economic framework and a more secure environment, which will benefit not only local business but Swiss companies too.
Federal Councillor Cassis to discuss FDFA strategies in Africa
The head of the FDFA will use his visit to Algeria, Mali, Senegal and The Gambia to talk to local partners and authorities about the priorities and objectives of the MENA and sub-Saharan Africa strategies.
At the end of January 2020, after analysing the current state of the world and evaluating the trends that could shape the future, the Federal Council published its Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23, setting out its overarching objectives.
The next step involves adapting these objectives to the situation in various regions of the world. Although the objectives are the same, they cannot be implemented the same way everywhere. This is why the FDFA devised strategies specifically for the MENA region and sub-Saharan Africa.
Coordination of the strategies is important to ensure that Switzerland can implement its foreign policy in a coherent manner in all parts of the world. The Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 sets the general course with the overarching objectives. This means Switzerland is represented in a coherent and unified way.
Contact
General Secretariat GS-FDFA
Federal Palace West
3003 Bern