Nepal-Switzerland Bilateral Relations

Nepal-Switzerland Relations

Political Relations

Nepal and the Swiss Confederation established diplomatic relations on 10 November 1956. The Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations and International Organizations based in Geneva is accredited as Embassy of Nepal to Switzerland. Switzerland opened its residential Embassy in Kathmandu in 2009.

Having similar geographical landscape, Nepal attaches great importance to her relations with Switzerland, which are based on mutual respect, friendship and cooperation. Switzerland has been a longstanding development partner of Nepal and has also extended its support to the democratic movements and peace process of Nepal.

Exchange of Visits/High Level Meetings

From Nepal

• Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland on the sidelines of the 58th regular session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 24 February 2025.
• Rt. Hon. President Mr. Ramchandra Paudel visited Geneva from 11-14 June 2024 to attend the inaugural Forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice that took place during the High-level Segment of the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference
• Prime Minister Mr. KP Sharma Oli visited Davos, Switzerland in January 2019 to attend the 49th World Economic Forum.
• President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari visited Switzerland in June 2017 to participate in the 106^th International Labour Conference (ILC).
• Foreign Minister Mr. Prakash Sharan Mahat visited Geneva in February 2017 to participate in the 34^th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. He also held bilateral meeting with the Swiss Foreign Minister Mr. Didier Bukhalter.
• Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala visited Geneva in September 2000.
• Foreign Minister Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey in March 2005, DPM and Foreign Minister Mr. K. P. Sharma Oli in June 2006, Foreign Minister Ms. Sahana Pradhan in 2007 and Foreign Minister Mr. UpendraYadav in 2008 visited Switzerland.

From Switzerland:

• Foreign Minister of Switzerland H. E. Mr. Ignazio Cassis and his delegation visited Nepal on 6-8 July 2025.
• Director General of Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation Mr. Manuel Sager visited Nepal in March 2019.
• State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Ms. Pascale Baeriswyl visited Nepal in December 2017.
• Heidi Tagliavini, Deputy Secretary of State visited Kathmandu in April 2007 to support the peace process of Nepal.
• Swiss President Mr. Arnold Keller visited Nepal in November 1997.

Bilateral Consultation Mechanism:

The MOU on establishing the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between the Foreign Ministries of Nepal and Switzerland was signed on 04 November 2015. In April 2024, the mechanism held its fourth meeting in Bern.

Development Cooperation:

Switzerland’s cooperation to Nepal dates back to the 1950s. Economic cooperation programme was initiated in 1956 with technical assistance scheme for cheese production in the eastern high hills. Since 1963, Nepal has been a priority country for Swiss development cooperation. The Swiss assistance to Nepal is channelled through the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC).

The Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Nepal 2023–26 aims to contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic well-being of women and men, and to support an inclusive and accountable federal state in Nepal. The strategy has total disbursements of approximately CHF 155 million (equivalent to NPR 16.5 billion) over a period of four years.

In 2023, the Swiss government announced completion of construction of 10,000 trail bridges all over Nepal under the SDC.

Nepal and Switzerland signed the Agreement on Technical Cooperation in 1972. Switzerland is also one of the contributors to the World Bank administered multi-donor trust fund in Nepal.

The post-earthquake pledge from Switzerland was important for carrying out reconstruction works. Switzerland has also helped Nepal’s fight against COVID-19 by providing medicines and test equipments.

Trade

Nepal-Switzerland trade relations have witnessed growth over the years. The balance of trade remains in favour of Switzerland.

Major Nepali exports to Switzerland consist of tea, coffee, mate, spices, green tea, ginger, cinnamon, fenugreek, plants and parts of plants, sugar, dog or cat food, malt extracts, essential oils, hand knotted woollen carpets, ready-made garments, handicrafts, woollen goods, Nepalese paper and paper products, hides and silverware and jewellery.

Similarly, Nepal imports time pieces, pharmaceutical products, chemicals, construction material, transport equipment, machinery and parts, medical equipment, etc. from Switzerland.

Trend of bilateral trade over the past few years is as follows:

(Value in 000 Rupees)

Investment

As of FY 2023/24, Switzerland’s total capital stock in Nepal stood at Rs. 326.4 million.

Bilateral Agreements

Nepal and Switzerland have signed the following agreements and MOUs:

1. Air Service Agreement (2024)
2. MOU on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation (2015)
3. Agreement on the Performance of Remunerated Activities By Dependent Persons of Members of Diplomatic Missions’, Consular Posts and Permanent Missions (2019)
4. Agreement on Technical Cooperation (1972)

Tourism and People-to-People Contact:

On average, 7000 Swiss tourists visit Nepal every year for leisurely activities. The data below reflects the arrival of tourists from Switzerland in the last two years:

An estimated 1,500 Nepalis currently reside in Switzerland.

Europe Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As of March 2026