Tokyo (SCCIJ) – For the first time, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Swiss parliament has chosen Japan for its annual international fact-finding trip. Nine committee members visited Tokyo and Osaka from November 7 to 11. The focus of the visit was Switzerland’s foreign economic policy, in particular, an update of the 2009 free trade agreement between the two countries.
Members of the Swiss Foreign Affairs Committee at the start of their fact-finding mission in Japan (© Embassy of Switzerland in Japan).
Broad Japan tour
Committee President Franz Grueter (SVP) led the delegation, accompanied by Vice-President Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP) and the seven members Sibel Arslan (Greens), Tiana Angelina Moser (GLP), Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter (Centre. EVP), Andreas Aebi (SVP), Roger Köppel (SVP), Fabian Molina (SP) and Eric Nussbaumer (SP).
The delegation met various representatives of the local economy active in the fields of research and development, innovation, and technology. During the official meetings, the delegation also discussed the dynamics of regional security, the subject of energy, as well as the possibilities of strengthening bilateral economic relations between Switzerland and Japan, and Switzerland’s desire to modernize the free trade agreement in force since 2009.
Treaty at agenda top
In Tokyo, the delegation met representatives of the Japanese National Diet’s Foreign Affairs Committee and the Switzerland-Japan Parliamentarian Friendship Group. The possibilities for strengthening bilateral economic relations, as well as priority foreign policy issues such as regional security dynamics and energy, were at the heart of the discussions. The most important topic was Switzerland’s wish to modernize the 13-year-old free trade agreement. “I can say that we had very promising talks,” delegation leader Grueter said afterward. The parliamentary delegation was also received for courtesy meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
Another tour stop was the technology company NEC which is a major investor in Switzerland, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The delegation was also led to various booths of Swiss companies at the Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF), the biannual machine tool exhibition. Swissmem, the association for Switzerland’s mechanical and electrical engineering industries, organized the participation of Swiss companies in the fair, supported by Swiss Business Hub Japan.
Members of the Swiss Foreign Affairs Committee in front of the Swissmem information booth at the International Machine Tool Fair in Tokyo (© SCCIJ).
EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai
In Osaka, the delegation saw the future offices of the Swiss Consulate in Osaka which will house the Swissnex Japan office. Scientists and founders of Swiss start-ups presented their activities to the delegation.
At the EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai, the Swiss Pavilion will highlight Switzerland’s innovative strength and capabilities in the fields of environment, health, and economy. The vice secretary general of EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai, Mr. Ichinoki Manatsu, explained to the delegation the challenges of organizing the large-scale event. Furthermore, the delegation was stopped by the company Screen Holdings, a leading equipment manufacturer in the semiconductor industry.
Text: SCCIJ based on information from the Swiss Parliament
