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

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

Economic cooperation has also been expanding. The free trade agreement between Moldova and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, has entered into force, and in 2025 trade exchanges increased by one third compared to the previous year. In March, the Moldova–Switzerland Business Forum was held in Zurich.

The President praised the results achieved during Mr. Beltrani’s four-year mandate. During this period, Switzerland launched its new Cooperation Programme for the Republic of Moldova 2025–2028, worth 104 million Swiss francs, focusing on good governance and social cohesion, economic development and healthcare, as well as local public services.

The two countries also signed a Social Security Agreement, which will help protect the rights of Moldovan citizens working in Switzerland, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the social and labour fields.

With Switzerland’s support, important projects have been implemented in recent years in areas directly affecting citizens, including mental health and chronic disease prevention, public services in rural communities, vocational education and support for entrepreneurs, as well as diaspora engagement in the development of communities back home.

Switzerland is also the fourth-largest contributor to the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025–2028.