Switzerland and Argentina have close relations which are reinforced by regular bilateral exchanges. The two countries have close cultural ties: Argentina is home to the largest Swiss community in Latin America.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Argentina
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
At the heart of bilateral relations are trade, Swiss investment in Argentina, cooperation on tax matters and cooperation within international bodies, especially on human rights issues. Regular political consultations have taken place between Switzerland and Argentina since 2005. Since July 2012, all consular services for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay have been handled by the regional consular centre in Buenos Aires.
Switzerland and Argentina have signed agreements on trade, investment protection, international mutual assistance in criminal matters, double taxation, social security and air transport.
Economic cooperation
Argentina ranks as Switzerland's fourth-largest trading partner and third-biggest export destination in Latin America. Switzerland imported CHF 1.1 billion worth of goods from Argentina in 2023, mainly precious metals and agricultural products. The value of Swiss exports to Argentina – primarily chemical products, pharmaceuticals, machinery, precision instruments and watches – amounted to CHF 684 million.
At the end of 2022, Swiss direct investment stood at CHF 3.5 billion and Swiss companies employed 11,201 people in the country.
The negotiations for the EFTA–Mercosur free trade agreement were substantially completed in August 2019.
Information on countries, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Researchers and artists who are citizens of Argentina can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
A trainee exchange agreement enables young people from Argentina to acquire additional professional experience and hone their language skills in Switzerland.
There are numerous ties between universities and research institutes in the two countries and a joint research programme was launched in 2016. Within this framework, close to 100 projects have been carried out. Under a mandate conferred by SERI, the University of St Gallen is currently coordinating research cooperation initiatives between Switzerland and Latin America.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI
Young professionals (trainees), State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)
Swiss nationals in Argentina
Argentina is home to the largest Swiss community in Latin America. There were 15,120 Swiss nationals officially registered in the country at the end of 2023. There are over 50 Swiss clubs in Argentina, as well as a large number of partnerships between Swiss and Argentine cities and communes.
History of bilateral relations
As early as the mid-17th century, Swiss nationals began emigrating to what would become the Argentine Republic in 1816. Switzerland opened a consulate in Buenos Aires in 1834. Due to the growing Swiss community in Argentina, the consulate was upgraded to a consulate general in 1876. In 1891, Switzerland opened its first diplomatic mission in South America in Buenos Aires. Swiss immigrants founded several settlements in the country. Tens of thousands of Argentine nationals have roots in Switzerland and maintain lively cultural exchanges.
Argentina, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)
