For Switzerland, Colombia and Peru are important partners and priority countries in terms of economic development cooperation. Colombia is Switzerland’s fourth largest export market in Latin America and Peru is the largest exporter to Switzerland in Latin America. As a member of the European Free Trade Association, Switzerland has been party to comprehensive free trade agreements with both Colombia and Peru since 2011.
One aim of the EFTA/EU delegation’s working visit is to determine how much progress has been made locally in implementing the free trade agreements and identify potential for further strengthening economic cooperation with Switzerland. The delegation also cares particularly about meeting environmental and social standards. It therefore wishes to use its discussions with partners in Colombia and Peru to facilitate the modernisation of the agreement, and in particular to include a chapter on trade and sustainable development.
At the beginning of the week, the EFTA/EU delegation’s high-level visit to Bogotá will include meetings with the Colombian trade minister, other members of the Colombian government and parliament and representatives of commercial associations, businesses and civil society. The delegation will also visit various Swiss international cooperation projects in sustainable water management and urban development.
On Wednesday, the delegation will travel to Peru where the programme will also focus on bilateral economic relations. Meetings are scheduled with ministers and other members of the government and parliament on external economic relations and sustainability and the environment. The delegation will also meet representatives of the business community, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and the Swiss community abroad. A visit to a sustainability project which receives economic development support is also planned.
The members of the Swiss EFTA/EU delegation who will visit Colombia and Peru are its president, National Council member Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP, ZH), Council of States member Didier Berberat (SP, NE), and National Council members Kathy Riklin (CVP, ZH) and Jean-François Rime (SVP, FR).