Auckland (The NZ Today)
New Zealand and Switzerland have agreed to establish a new Trade and Investment Dialogue, marking the first formal step towards exploring closer economic cooperation between the two countries.
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay announced the agreement following talks with Switzerland’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, on the sidelines of the Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership Ministerial Meeting in Auckland.
The dialogue will explore opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, economic security, e-commerce and sustainability. Officials from both countries are expected to hold their first meeting in September.
McClay said Switzerland was an important partner for New Zealand and one of the world’s most innovative and advanced economies.
He said establishing the dialogue would help strengthen bilateral economic cooperation while also enhancing collaboration through international organisations such as the World Trade Organization, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the FIT Partnership.
“At a time of growing global economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever that like-minded countries work together to strengthen trade and investment,” McClay said.
According to Government figures, two-way trade between New Zealand and Switzerland was worth NZ$1.88 billion in the year ending December 2025.
New Zealand exported NZ$429 million worth of goods and services to Switzerland, including NZ$100 million in goods and NZ$324 million in services.
Key New Zealand exports included travel services, meat and edible offal, and hides and skins.
Imports from Switzerland totalled NZ$1.45 billion, comprising NZ$624 million in goods and NZ$825 million in services.
Major imports included transportation services, pharmaceuticals, clocks and watches, insurance and pension services, and charges related to the use of intellectual property.
The announcement was made during the FIT Partnership Ministerial Meeting in Auckland, where participating countries are discussing ways to strengthen international trade, investment and economic cooperation.
The first round of Trade and Investment Dialogue talks between New Zealand and Switzerland is scheduled to take place in September.
