On September 6, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon received Mr. Manuel Sager, Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), according to the Tajik president’s official website. 

A wide range of issues related to of cooperation between Tajikistan and the SDC were reportedly discussed during the meeting.

President Emomali Rahmon appreciated the Swiss Confederation’s consistent support for socioeconomic development of Tajikistan.  

The sides, in particular, discussed cooperation in the fields of water supply and sanitation, climate change, education, health care, employment, the rule of law, as well as the development of the economy and the private sector.

The parties expressed interest in the development of relations in the implementation of sectoral plans, expansion of trade, investment, improvement of Tajikistan’s banking sector, and launching joint ventures.

The parties reportedly expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of the two countries within the framework of international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Bretton Woods Institutions, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is an office-level agency in the federal administration of Switzerland, and a part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.  Together with other federal offices, SDC is responsible for overall coordination of Swiss international development activities and cooperation with Eastern Europe, as well as humanitarian aid.

SDC It has a staff of 536, no revenues and annual expenditures of CHF 1,433 million.  Mr. Manuel Sager has been Director-General of SDC since 2015.