Nepal-Swiss Relations: Old Friend, Reliable Development Partner

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis of Switzerland with Prime Minister K.P. Shama Oli. Photo: MoFA.

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis of Switzerland made a key bilateral visit to Nepal from July 6-8, underscoring close and trusted ties between the two nations. During his visit, the Swiss Foreign Minister called on Prime Minister K.P. Shama Oli. The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen Nepal-Switzerland ties and enhance cooperation in key development areas. Likewise, he held a bilateral meeting with Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, also the acting Foreign Affairs Minister, to discuss ways to further deepen cooperation.

In a symbolic gesture of friendship and shared commitment to sustainability, Minister Cassis also planted a tree during a ceremony attended by the Swiss Ambassador to Nepal, Dr. Danielle Meuwly. Ambassador Meuwly emphasized the long-standing partnership and mutual respect that has characterized relations between the two nations. Cassis also visited the headquarters of the Chaudhary Group (CG) to celebrate the success of the ENSURE program, a Swiss-backed initiative to boost youth employability in Nepal.

The two landlocked countries formally established diplomatic ties in 1956, following which Nepal and Switzerland have continued to work closely. One of the wealthiest countries in Europe, Switzerland, has been supporting Nepal through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) since the establishment of bilateral relations. Switzerland has, for long, prioritized development cooperation with Nepal. Long before opening its embassy in Kathmandu in 2009, Switzerland had already established a consular agency in 1956. Meanwhile, Nepal continues to manage relations with Switzerland through its permanent mission in Geneva.

To commemorate the upcoming 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026, Foreign Minister Cassis also encouraged the staff of the Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal to host a special gathering.

Former Ambassador to Switzerland and UN representative Shambhu Ram Simkhada described the relationship between the two countries as ‘historic and without strategic conditions’. “Switzerland was one of the first countries to provide aid to Nepal, and it has done so without strategic interests,” he remarked.

Simkhada noted that as Nepal transitions out of LDC (Least Developed Country) status in 2026, traditional aid models will evolve. He emphasized the need for Nepal to focus on economic diplomacy more strategically, by drawing lessons from Switzerland’s balanced development approach that focuses on agriculture, banking, small enterprises, and public investment tailored to geography and local needs. “Learning from the Swiss experience for Nepal is a good approach to move forward. The Swiss government invests in their people based on the country’s geography and the people’s needs. Nepal should learn from that to make better relations between the two countries,” he added.

Switzerland’s most impactful contributions to Nepal have come through the SDC. Under programs such as the Local Governance and Community Development Programme (LGCDP), Switzerland helped construct more than 10,000 trail bridges across Nepal’s hills and mountains. These trail bridges not only facilitated travel, they also transformed access to education, healthcare, and markets in remote areas.

Beyond infrastructure, Swiss support has extended to reintegrating returnee migrant workers and strengthening agriculture and vocational training. Through its 2023–2026 General Cooperation Programme, Switzerland has committed CHF 154 million for a range of development initiatives in Nepal. Prior to ending the construction of the trail bridges program in 2023, the SDC provided technical expertise to the local government and communities of Nepal to help manage the infrastructure.

Beyond infrastructure, Switzerland also provided 10 million Swiss Francs (approximately NRs. 1.09 billion) for the Local Governance and Community Development Programme (LGCDP) II, in 2013. The LGCDP II was a national programme focused on strengthening local governance and community development with the goal of contributing to poverty reduction under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA).

The Swiss support has also extended to reintegration of returnee migrant workers, for which Nepal received a budget of CHF 6.8 million (Rs. 861.3 million). Nepal also received CHF 28.34 million for development of agriculture and human skills. The Swiss government has also introduced the General Cooperation Program (2023-26), under which 154 million Swiss Francs will be provided for various development initiatives.

Switzerland has stood by Nepal not only during normal times but also in moments of great need. During the 2015 earthquake, Swiss citizens donated CHF 32.5 million in relief efforts. As many as 11 Swiss NGO, in coordination with 8 local organisations, helped rebuild over 3,200 homes, 61 schools, and 57 water cisterns. Likewise, 42 irrigation systems were repaired, 31 water mills reconstructed, and 8 health centres were rebuilt. They also provided tents and blankets, water and food, and basic medical care under emergency aid.

Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Switzerland delivered 144,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 30 tonnes of essential medical supplies.

Nepal has been receiving assistance from the Swiss government in other sectors such as local governance, gender, climate, and education, from 1956 through Helvetas, a Switzerland based international development organisation.

In 2015, the two countries established a Bilateral Consultations Mechanism to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, and development. Parliamentary dialogue has also expanded, with a high-level Nepali delegation attending Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) sessions in Switzerland last October. President Ramchandra Paudel’s state visit to Switzerland in June further reinforced the shared commitment to deepen relations.

During the presidential visit, he met with Swiss counterpart, President Viola Patricia Amherd. At the meeting, they discussed several aspects of bilateral relations, including development cooperation and potential for enhanced cooperation. 

The discussions on Nepal-Swiss relations would be incomplete without mentioning Toni Hagen, the Swiss geologist and development pioneer. Hagen first came to Nepal in 1950 as a member of a technical assistance team sent by the Swiss government. He trekked over 14,000 km on foot to conduct geological surveys. His work not only introduced Nepal’s geography to the Western world but also laid the groundwork for future cooperation. His seminal book Nepal: The Kingdom in the Himalayas remains widely respected both in Nepal and internationally.