Moldovan president has farewell meeting with Head of Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova

President Maia Sandu today had a farewell meeting with Guido Beltrani, Head of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova, whose four-year mandate ends on July 31, 2026. The two officials reviewed the bilateral relations between Moldova and Switzerland, which in recent years have been marked by increasingly frequent political contacts, growing trade exchanges and close cooperation in the field of development.

In the first half of 2026 alone, President Maia Sandu met President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, at the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis paid a visit to Moldova.

Economic cooperation is also on the rise as well. The free trade agreement between Moldova and the European Free Trade Association, of which Switzerland is a member, has entered into force, and in 2025 trade exchanges increased by one third compared to the previous year. At the same time, in March, the Moldova–Switzerland Business Forum was held in Zurich.

The head of state praised the results achieved during Mr. Beltrani’s four-year mandate. During this period, the new Swiss Cooperation Programme for Moldova 2025–2028 was launched, worth 104 million Swiss francs and focused on good governance and social cohesion, economic development and health, as well as local public services. The Social Security Agreement between the two countries was signed, which will ensure the protection of the rights of Moldovan citizens working in Switzerland, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of social affairs and labour.

With Switzerland’s support, projects have been implemented in recent years in areas of major importance for citizens: mental health and prevention of chronic diseases, public services in rural areas, vocational education and support for entrepreneurs, as well as the involvement of the Diaspora in the development of their home communities. Switzerland is also the fourth largest contributor to the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Moldova 2025–2028.