Swiss-Laos Framework Agreement on Development Cooperation

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis said yes in Vientiane to the four-year collaboration with the Asian country, “recognized” in 1963

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis signs a framework agreement on development cooperation with Laos in Vientiane
During his trip to Southeast Asia on August 3 and 4, the Head of the FDFA held talks in the Laotian capital with the President and several ministers of the country.
During his visit, Federal Councillor Cassis signed a framework agreement on development cooperation. Next year, the SDC will launch its new four-year cooperation program in Laos.
The Head of Department visited a COVID-19 quarantine camp for Laotian migrant workers supported financially by Switzerland together with the Swiss Red Cross and the World Food Program.
This was the first bilateral visit by a Swiss foreign minister to Laos. Switzerland has maintained diplomatic relations with Laos since 1963 and has also been engaged in the area of development cooperation since 1995.
The commitment in this field was the focus of the meeting in Vientiane between Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and the Laotian Deputy Premier and Minister of Planning and Investment Sonexay Siphandone.
The latter thanked Switzerland for its work in recent years and for its help following the dramatic disaster caused by the collapse of a dam in 2018.

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Partnership for balanced economic and social growth

During their meeting, the Head of the FDFA and the Vice Premier of Laos signed a bilateral cooperation framework agreement.
The aim is to promote cooperation in the following areas: employment and vocational training, agriculture and food security, climate change, local governance and civic engagement as well as humanitarian aid in Laos.
The agreement will create a legal framework for the implementation of the cooperation measures. Both parties are committed to democratic principles and fundamental rights, the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement.
“I am convinced that Switzerland can contribute to a balanced economic and social development in Laos thanks to this agreement,” said Federal Councillor Cassis after the signing.
For Laos, Switzerland is the eighth largest bilateral donor. In 2006, Switzerland opened a cooperation office in Vientiane. Since then, more than CHF 100 million has flowed into Laos for bilateral development projects.
The new four-year SDC cooperation program 2022-2025 of more than CHF 60 million is based on Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2021-2024.
In Vientiane, in the presence of representatives of the Swiss community, Cassis also inaugurated a new consular agency aimed at strengthening consular services for Swiss citizens living in Laos and for the more than 8,000 persons who travel to the country each year for tourism.

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Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone & I signed a Framework Agreement on #DevelopmentCooperation with the aim to achieve sustainable economic & social progress in #Laos @SwissDevCoop pic.twitter.com/1uZovN4FJf

— Ignazio Cassis (@ignaziocassis) August 4, 2021

Humanitarian assistance at the time of COVID-19 and beyond

Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis also met in Vientiane with President Thongloun Sisoulith and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.
The topics discussed during the meetings were mainly the COVID-19 pandemic and its long-term socio-economic repercussions.
In addition, the head of the FDFA visited a quarantine camp for female and male workers returning from Thailand, who are required to observe a 14-day quarantine period for precautionary reasons.

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1.25 million francs from Bern to increase general hygiene

Announced that Switzerland’s contribution to supply the camp with food and hygiene items will increase to 1.25 million francs.
Thus, Switzerland’s support to Laos to counter the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will total about 6 million francs.
Under the chairmanship of Laos, Switzerland joined the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which until then had consisted of 51 Asian and European countries. ASEM was founded in 1996 as an informal platform for dialogue to promote cooperation between Asia and Europe in the political, economic, social and cultural fields.
After his stops in Thailand and Laos, Cassis will continue on to Vietnam, where he will stay for two days.

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