President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a state visit to Switzerland from 29 to 30 October to strengthen cooperation in trade, science, and youth development, the Presidency announced on Monday.
Invited by Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, Ramaphosa will travel to Bern to advance bilateral relations aimed at inclusive growth and innovation.
According to presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, the visit will spotlight efforts to expand investment, skills development, and scientific collaboration.
“A key focus of the visit will also be advancement of a youth cooperation framework aimed at promoting training and capacity building to equip young people with the skills required in the modern economy,” Magwenya said.
South Africa is Switzerland’s leading African partner in science and technology, with joint initiatives such as the Square Kilometre Array Observatory underscoring shared commitments to global research.
The two countries have signed 22 bilateral agreements covering air services, taxation, development cooperation and visa facilitation.
Switzerland ranks among South Africa’s key European trading partners.
While South African Revenue Service data places bilateral trade at R18.2 billion (about $1.1 billion) in 2024, Swiss figures – factoring in gold exports – show trade volumes reaching R159.5 billion, positioning Switzerland as South Africa’s sixth largest trading partner.
South Africa’s exports include gold, machinery, wine, fruit and base metals, while imports from Switzerland comprise pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and industrial machinery.
