Relations between Switzerland and Egypt are good and wide-ranging. Egypt is a priority country for Swiss international cooperation within the framework of the development programs of the FDFA and the EAER. Egypt has always featured prominently in Switzerland's trade with the Middle East and Africa.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Egypt
MENA Strategy
On 14 October 2020 the Federal Council adopted a specific strategy for the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA Strategy) for the 2021–24 period. It identifies five thematic priorities: peace, security and human rights; migration and protection of people in need; sustainable development; economic affairs, finance, science; digitalization and new technologies.
These priorities are weighted differently across the various regions and countries. In North Africa, Switzerland's activities focus on good governance, sustainable economic development and cooperation in the area of migration. The political upheavals of 2011 have paved the way for a long transition process in North Africa. Switzerland's commitment is aimed mainly at supporting these countries in their political, economic and social transition. Switzerland supports reforms aimed at improving economic prospects and increasing civic participation.
Foreign policy priorities for the MENA region
Switzerland's priorities in Egypt
The MENA Strategy 2021–24 identifies the following priorities for Switzerland in Egypt:
1. Human rights
Switzerland raises human rights issues with the authorities and provides support and protection to human rights defenders. It offers civil society organisations platforms to discuss cross-cutting issues. Peace, security and human rights are taken into account in all areas as transversal themes.
2. Migration
In cooperation with local and international partners, Switzerland runs projects to combat human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, to promote the integration of migrants and to improve access to the labour market.
3. Climate change and urbanization
Switzerland supports initiatives in water management, recycling and the green economy to help mitigate the effects of climate change and urbanization.
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
4. Economy
Through its projects, Switzerland places particular emphasis on strengthening macroeconomic processes, infrastructure development and local SMEs. It focuses on access to financial resources, greater participation of women and young people in the labour market and vocational training with locally based Swiss companies.
Egypt is an important partner country for Switzerland in Africa, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region. It is also Africa's main export market for Swiss companies. In 2022 the volume of trade between the two countries amounted to CHF 1.86 billion. Switzerland has concluded a number of agreements with Egypt. A bilateral agreement on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments came into effect in 2012, while a framework agreement on technical and financial cooperation and humanitarian aid entered into force in 2013. A free trade agreement between Egypt and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) entered into force in 2007.
Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE)
Trade statistics, Swiss Federal Customs Administration (FCA)
Other areas of cooperation
Education, training, research and innovation
Researchers and artists who are citizens of Egypt can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists
Cultural exchanges
A lively cultural exchange exists between Switzerland and Egypt, particularly in music, theatre and film. The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia and its branch office in Cairo are responsible for promoting Swiss art and culture in the Arab world. Pro Helvetia promotes contacts with Egyptian cultural actors, initiates co-productions with artists and facilitates residencies for artists.
The Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt in Cairo was founded in 1949. In 2017, Switzerland celebrated the discovery of the Abu Simbel temples 200 years ago by Swiss national J. L. Burckhardt.
In June 2024, the Swiss embassy in Egypt organised a celebration in front of the pyramids of Giza to mark the 90th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship between Switzerland and Egypt. The treaty was signed on 7 June 1934 between the Swiss Federal Council and King Fuad I of Egypt. To mark the anniversary, the Swiss embassy in Cairo has organised a series of events which will run until June 2025. These include the 'Alp O Nile' walking tour map, which the embassy has put together in collaboration with the Cairo Lab for Urban Studies, Training and Environmental Research (CLUSTER). The map shows famous Swiss landmarks in Cairo that were designed and built by Swiss explorers, tradespeople, confectioners and hoteliers.
Switzerland regularly takes part in the celebrations to mark the International Day of La Francophonie and Italian Language Week. It also organises various cultural events.
Swiss nationals in Egypt
There were 1,481 Swiss nationals living in Egypt at the end of 2024.
History of bilateral relations
Switzerland took part in important steps of the process leading to Egypt's independence. A peace conference was held in 1923 in Lausanne, where the Republic of Turkey relinquished all rights concerning Egypt. In 1924 Switzerland recognised the independence of Egypt and in 1934 signed a treaty of friendship.
In 1935 Switzerland opened a chancellery in Cairo, which in 1945 was replaced by a legation (embassy from 1957). Thanks to its neutrality Switzerland represented the interests of several states in Egypt during the Second World War and the decades thereafter. Today, Switzerland still represents the interests of Iran in Egypt (since 1979).
