Berne
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Discours prononcé en anglais. Texte original, non traduit.
Mr President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour to be here today with President Rouhani to open the Innovation and Industry Forum with a Focus on Health and Food. This marks the start of day two of President Rouhani’s official visit. Straight after this, the two delegations will meet for political talks.
I would like to thank the organisers of today’s event, the Economic Chamber Switzerland–Iran and the Swiss-Iranian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The visibly large interest is proof of the strong ties that exist between our two countries. Exchanges of ideas, goods and services, and of scientists and researchers between Switzerland and Iran are clearly beneficial for innovation and industry.
Our two countries have been trading partners since the seventeenth century. The high level of education of Iran’s population and its millennia-age culture convinced Swiss firms of Iran’s economic potential. As a result, some Swiss firms have always been present in Iran, even during difficult times.
Since the lifting of international sanctions, bilateral economic relations between Iran and Switzerland have strengthened. Important milestones have been achieved since our two countries agreed on a Road Map for the Enhancement of Bilateral Relations during the Swiss presidential visit to Teheran in February 2016.
An essential element of our Road Map was the launch of regular consultations on economic and financial matters in 2016 and the ratification of the bilateral trade agreement in March 2017. The aim of this Agreement is to establish a legal framework and disciplines for the conduct of mutual trade and economic relations between our two countries.
Stable framework conditions are a key element in safeguarding trade and long-term investment. Obviously, the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action increases the legal uncertainty for Swiss firms in their business dealings with Iran.
Switzerland supported the negotiations on the nuclear deal from the outset politically and logistically, and welcomed the signing of the agreement. The Plan of Action is a great success for diplomacy and is an important non-proliferation treaty. Switzerland calls on all parties to the agreement to exercise restraint and to continue with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. It will continue to closely monitor the impact on peace policy and trade.
The future of the agreement certainly has an impact on our bilateral economic relations. The newly established Joint Economic Commission will be instrumental in addressing the upcoming challenges regarding economic relations between Iran and Switzerland.
By focusing on food and health care, today’s forum is dedicated to two areas in which Switzerland has a great deal of know-how and experience. We are also committed to ensuring that transaction possibilities will continue to exist for humanitarian goods in future.
The Road Map for the Enhancement of Bilateral Relations between Switzerland and Iran also envisages more intensive exchanges in the fields of science and research.
Research and innovation are extremely important for the Swiss economy. As a land-locked country with few natural resources, we depend on such know-how to stay competitive. At the same time, we have to put in place conditions which also enable our research and innovation actors to be active internationally.
The most important breakthroughs are made in multilateral research organisations. Researchers have to be able to measure themselves against the best and build up international partnerships.
Switzerland has noted with interest that Iran has recently increased its investment in research and innovation. The number of publications has risen significantly since 2011, particularly in the technical sciences.
Universities, institutes and researchers from our two countries should therefore be encouraged to foster direct contact to secure the best possible relations in education, research and innovation.
Scientific exchange is the theme of today’s talks. And we will be signing a declaration of intent on cooperation in this field.
Furthermore, we will also be signing an agreement on road transport as well as two declarations of intent on cooperation in health care and agriculture.
Mr President,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Events such as today’s Innovation and Industry Forum play an important role in bringing together players from our countries, enabling them to get to know each other and establish fruitful relationships. Such exchanges between the business and science communities are even more important in times of international tensions.
In closing, I would like to stress that relations between our two countries are based on firm foundations that have weathered many storms: a Friendship Treaty has existed between our two countries for over a hundred and forty years.
In the twenty-first century, Switzerland has positioned itself as an open, globalised, rules-based and democratic nation. We firmly believe that our interests are best protected and promoted in the framework of respected international rules, based on agreed standards enshrined in international law.
I am certain that in view of globalisation, geopolitical and geo-economic changes, respect for international law and credible dialogue is not only in Switzerland’s core interest, but in the interests of all.
Thank you!