A bilateral working visit to both Nigeria and Kenya will take place from 26 January to 1 February involving four members of the EFTA/EU Delegation. As part of its activities, the EFTA/EU Delegation is responsible for maintaining relations with the countries with which Switzerland is exploring the possibility of expanding trade relations as a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). This is done in the context of ongoing free trade agreement negotiations or by laying the initial political groundwork for future talks at government level.
The Swiss delegation is visiting Nigeria and Kenya with the aim of holding initial talks at parliamentary level on joint trade opportunities, as EFTA does not have a negotiation process underway with either country. The focus on the African continent is also reflected in the new Africa Strategy 2025–2028, adopted by the Federal Council on 20 December 2024, one of the aims of which is to strengthen the framework conditions for economic cooperation with countries in East and West Africa, thus diversifying Switzerland's foreign trade geographically.
Nigeria and Kenya were selected because they are both major centres of economic development in West and East Africa. With over 220 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country on the African continent. The city of Lagos is one of Africa's leading economic hubs, and is also particularly innovative with its dynamic technology scene. EFTA and Nigeria signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation (JDC) in 2017. Nigeria has been Switzerland's main exporter of crude oil for several years, with imports averaging CHF 636 million and export volumes totalling CHF 143 million (figures for 2023). Bilateral trade has high growth potential given the size of its market. In addition, almost 60 Swiss companies are established in Nigeria, making Switzerland a major economic player in the country. However, the situation for foreign companies remains prone to risk due to the unstable conditions. Against this backdrop, it is important for the Swiss delegation to discuss with Nigeria how the framework conditions for local investment can be improved.
The delegation will first travel to the capital Abuja to meet with various members and committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate and with the Minister of Trade. It will then head to the economic centre of Lagos for visits and talks that will focus on the activities of Swiss companies and the conditions under which they operate.
As part of this working visit, the EFTA/EU Delegation will also travel to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital. Kenya has a relatively diversified economy and is the commercial and financial centre and the economic hub of East Africa. Although Kenya is part of the East African Community (EAC), it is very interested in concluding bilateral free trade agreements, which makes the country a potential candidate for Switzerland. Kenya signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the UK in 2020 and with the EU in 2023. The programme in Kenya also includes talks with members of parliament, representatives of the economy and foreign ministry, local business experts and representatives of Swiss companies.
During this working visit, the EFTA/EU Delegation will be represented by its chairperson, National Council member Thomas Aeschi (SVP, ZG), and National Council members Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (The Centre, BL), Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP, ZH) and Nicolas Walder (The Greens, GE).
In the same week, National Council member Eric Nussbaumer (SP, BL) and Council of States member Benedikt Würth (The Centre, SG) will travel to Warsaw, where the chairpersons of the European affairs committees of the national parliaments will meet on 26 and 27 January to prepare for the Plenary Meeting of the conference of these committees (COSAC). This meeting is taking place under the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU. The biannual COSAC meetings serve as a platform for strengthening dialogue between the European and national parliaments. Switzerland has been taking part in these meetings with observer status since 2015, which allows it to gain insight into the most important European policy discussions that are also of interest to Switzerland.
Finally, on 28 and 29 January, National Council member Eric Nussbaumer (SP, BL) and Council of State members Damian Müller (FDP, LU) and Benedikt Würth (The Centre, SG) will represent the Swiss delegation at the periodic seminar on international trade organised by the EFTA Parliamentary Committee in Geneva. The event will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss free trade policies and a number of topical international trade issues, including European economic security and the impact of Donald Trump’s new presidency. Economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, specifically Malaysia, will also be the subject of a number of discussions between parliamentarians and experts. The second day of the seminar will focus on EFTA relations with third countries, in particular the ongoing negotiations with Vietnam, Singapore and Mercosur, and the recently concluded negotiations with Ukraine and Thailand. It will also be an opportunity to discuss the implementation of the free trade agreement signed with India in March 2024.