The launch ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation in the New Administrative Capital, with the attendance of Minister Rania Al-Mashat, Swiss Ambassador to Egypt Andreas Baum, Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Patricia Danzi, and senior officials from both countries.
Valued at 60 million Swiss francs, the new cooperation programme, implemented by the SDC, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), focuses on three main pillars: migration, green economic development, and improved governance. It is the fourth such programme since 2012, reinforcing bilateral ties and advancing joint efforts toward sustainable development.
Al-Mashat highlighted that the Egyptian government is keen to expand and diversify cooperation with Switzerland, particularly in supporting private sector development, attracting new Swiss investments, and localizing industry. She emphasized that Egypt’s ongoing economic and structural reforms have improved the business environment, creating new opportunities for bilateral trade and private sector collaboration.
“The Joint Economic Committee and the new cooperation programme reflect our shared commitment to deepening economic ties and paving the way for stronger investment and trade relations,” Al-Mashat said, pointing to the government’s Narrative for Economic Development as a framework for driving productivity and inclusive growth.
Egypt’s economy, she noted, grew by 4.4 percent in the last fiscal year, with the private sector’s role in development expanding due to more efficient governance of public investments.
The Swiss delegation congratulated Egypt on the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), attended by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, describing it as a milestone of national pride and cultural cooperation.
“Switzerland and Egypt have built a partnership based on trust, shared values, and mutual respect. This new cooperation programme builds on decades of joint work to protect lives, foster green growth, and promote good governance towards a more inclusive and sustainable future,” said Ambassador Baum.
For her part, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi explained that the programme aligns with Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025–2028, which emphasizes humanitarian aid, migration, democracy, private sector engagement, and climate action.
Ambassador Pietro Lazzari, Head of SECO’s Economic Cooperation and Development Division, reaffirmed that Egypt remains a key partner for Switzerland, adding: “In a challenging global environment, this programme underscores our firm commitment to supporting Egypt’s green and sustainable economic development.”
Both sides also discussed enhancing South-South and triangular cooperation, strengthening Egyptian-European relations, and promoting private-sector partnerships through initiatives such as the €1.8 billion European Investment Guarantees mechanism. Since 2020, concessional financing mobilized for Egypt’s private sector has totalled approximately $16 billion.
The new cooperation framework was established following the signing of the Egyptian-Swiss Joint Economic Committee agreement, which was witnessed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly during the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year. The agreement aims to facilitate trade, attract investments, and address challenges facing businesses in both countries.
With the 2025–2028 programme, Egypt and Switzerland reaffirm their shared vision for a greener, more resilient, and inclusive future built on decades of partnership and mutual trust.
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