Commemorating Swiss-Egyptian Friendship on Swiss National Day
Written by Ambassador Yvonne Baumann
Celebrating the Swiss National Day, this year bears a special significance. It coincides with the commemoration of 90 years since the Treaty of Friendship between Switzerland and Egypt was concluded on June 7, 1934. The Swiss Federal Council and His Majesty Fouad I, King of Egypt, asserted in the Treaty that there will be “perpetual peace and unalterable friendship” between the two countries and its peoples. This led to the opening of Switzerland’s first diplomatic representation in Cairo in 1935.
However, the arrival of the first Egyptians at the foot of the Alps and the first Swiss at the Pyramids dates back hundreds of years. And ever since, the relations between the two people have grown stronger. Today, we see lively and rich exchanges through diplomatic visits, international co-operation, in trade and investment, tourism, culture and science.
Egypt is a key partner for peace and stability and plays a crucial role in the region and beyond. It is also strategically located at the crossroads between continents.
Meanwhile, Switzerland has been working together with Egypt on social and economic development for 45 years. Almost 40 per cent of our current co-operation portfolio contributes to “greening” the economy. For example, we have helped improve access to clean drinking water for more than 600,000 people, mainly in Aswan. More recently, Switzerland has supported the certification of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) as a “green building”. The GEM saves over 60 per cent in energy costs and reduces water usage by 34 per cent compared to conventional buildings. Our co-operation programme also works on boosting the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises, particularly those led by women and youth. They operate in sectors such as textile and furniture, agribusiness, logistics and metal industries. Vocational education and training (TVET) is another priority. We also work towards facilitating access to finance for women through banking and non-banking channels. This has so far benefited over 500,000 women.
Following the war in Sudan, Switzerland reacted quickly by providing additional support to Egypt’s efforts in hosting Sudanese refugees, which reached CHF 8 million (ca USD 9 million) by end-2023.
While we celebrate 90 years of Friendship Treaty this year, our connections go back many centuries. In several locations in Switzerland, inscriptions can be found referring to temples and rites dedicated to ancient Egyptian gods. The patron saints of my Swiss home town Zürich, Felix and Regula, were Egyptians and part of the Theban Legion, an army legion of the Roman Empire dating back to the 3rd century, consisting of Christians from Thebes (now Luxor) in Upper Egypt.
Several centuries later, Swiss pilgrims came to Egypt, followed by Swiss explorers and adventurers, like Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. He was the first European in modern times to see the great Egyptian temple of Abu Simbel in 1813. To improve his Arabic, he studied the classical language of the Quran, and later converted to Islam taking on the name Sheikh Ibrahim Ibn Abdallah. His tomb can still be visited in Bab el-Nasr cemetery in his beloved Cairo.
In the 19th century, Swiss merchants and businessmen ventured to Egypt to establish businesses here. Many stayed in Alexandria, where the first Swiss trade office was opened in 1909. Swiss traces are also to be found in Cairo. The location of the Embassy of Switzerland in Downtown Cairo is surrounded by ‘Swiss nostalgia’. Walking around, you read the names ‘Groppi’ and ‘Baehler’, both Swiss businessmen who left a lasting mark in the city. One also can’t miss the famous building ‘La Genevoise’ that was designed by a Swiss architect in the 1930s.
The eminent Egyptian community in Switzerland includes scholars, award-winning authors and famous investors. But let’s not forget the area with the greatest power of bringing people together – football! Several years ago, it was a Swiss club, the FC Basel, that noticed Mohammed Salah’s great potential. Yet again, the exchange goes both ways.The Swiss Marcel Koller became the head coach of the Al Ahly football team, which won its 12th African Champions League title.
To mark the 90 years of friendship between our two nations and people, the Embassy is carrying out a series of activities until March 2025. The launch event took place in June 2024 – in collaboration with the Egyptian Tourism Authorities and with the support of Swiss companies. It revealed a large fresco at the foot of the last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza. The Swiss-based artist, Saype, created an artwork of two holding hands using biodegradable materials made of natural pigments with chalk and coal. The fresco was first painted in 2019 in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and is being recreated around the globe. It conveys a strong message of friendship and togetherness.
