Relations between Ethiopia and Switzerland are based on several bilateral agreements. Ethiopia is one of the countries included in the 2022–25 Swiss cooperation programme for the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is in East Africa, a region in which Switzerland has many interests, as outlined in the Africa Strategy 2025–28.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Ethiopia
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa, and plays a key role in the stability of the entire Greater Horn of Africa region. It hosts the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa and acts as a multilateral continental platform.
The Horn of Africa regional cooperation programme 2022-25 aims to ensure the coherence and effectiveness of Switzerland's activities in the region's various countries, as well as in regional and multilateral bodies.
In 2014, a memorandum of understanding was signed to increase bilateral dialogue, which has led to regular political consultations between Switzerland and Ethiopia.
Africa Strategy 2025–28 (PDF, 40 Pages, 3.8 MB, English)
Economic cooperation
Ethiopia is a significant trading partner for Switzerland in East Africa. In 2024, the volume of trade amounted to CHF 77 million. Swiss exports to Ethiopia totalled CHF 23 million, comprising mainly energy, chemical and pharmaceutical products, while imports amounted to CHF 54 million, composed mainly of agricultural products and textiles. Around 30 companies with links to Switzerland have operations in the Ethiopian market.
In 2023, the double taxation agreement on income tax entered into force.
Ethiopia is currently implementing an ambitious macroeconomic reform programme, which is creating promising new opportunities for international investors.
Trade promotion Switzerland Global Enterprise SGE
Information on countries, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
A research partnership between Switzerland and Ethiopia in the fields of science and technology was signed in 2008. This has led to various cooperation projects between Swiss universities and Ethiopian institutions. Between 2001 and 2014, cooperation was supported in particular by the Swiss North–South business cluster (NCCR).
Researchers who are citizens of Ethiopia can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships. Various SDC projects also provide a framework for cooperation on education.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI
Promotion of peace and human security
Switzerland seeks to work together with the East African states in a spirit of partnership on the issue of migration, and plays an active role in regional dialogues. Switzerland has a well-established profile with its dense network of representations and its ambassador-at-large for the Horn of Africa. Switzerland pursues its peace policy in a flexible manner, offering its services as a mediator and advocating respect for international humanitarian law and the rule of law. It lays the foundations to combat constructively the causes of irregular migration, in particular by taking action to mitigate the effects of climate change in the region.
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
Development and humanitarian aid play a major role in bilateral relations. The regional cooperation programme for the Horn of Africa 2022–25 focuses on food security, health, migration and protection, paying particular attention to sustainable solutions for displaced communities and good governance. It is implemented jointly by the embassies in Addis Ababa and Nairobi and the State Secretariat for Migration.
Swiss humanitarian aid focuses on supporting multilateral organisations such as the ICRC, UNHCR and WFP, as well as providing additional targeted emergency aid to vulnerable populations affected by crisis, conflict or disaster situations.
Cultural exchanges
The embassy regularly supports Swiss cultural activities in Ethiopia and is regularly involved in the cultural activities of the German-speaking, French-speaking and Italian-speaking communities. This includes organising exhibitions, promoting literature among young people and supporting Swiss artists based in Ethiopia.
Since 2023, the embassy has organised 'Freestyle with Switzerland', a dynamic networking event where speakers with links to Switzerland and Ethiopia give PechaKucha presentations. These evenings, which offer young diplomats and NGO representatives from Addis Ababa the chance to meet up in a relaxed setting, have quickly become a not-to-be-missed event on the city's cultural scene.
Swiss citizens in Ethiopia
According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, there were 235 Swiss citizens living in Ethiopia and 4,913 Ethiopian citizens living in Switzerland at the end of 2023.
History of bilateral relations
Swiss researchers have been interested in Ethiopia since the Renaissance. In the 19th century, missionaries and travellers began to establish relations between the two countries. The most prominent Swiss citizen in this regard was Alfred Ilg, an engineer from Frauenfeld who was an adviser to Emperor Menelik II from 1889 to 1907. He made a major contribution to the modernisation of Ethiopia and facilitated the construction of a railway line between Addis Ababa and Djibouti.
These relations were formalised for the first time with a friendship and trade treaty in 1933. Diplomatic relations were established on 2 May 1952 and have gradually strengthened. In 1955, Switzerland opened a permanent diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa, which was upgraded to embassy status on 4 June 1962.
