The Museum of Fine Arts was the ideal venue for the celebration, the centrepiece of which was the premiere of the documentary ‘Convergences’ by the Cuban production company Almar, which shows the results and benefits of some of the projects that have been carried out.
Speaking to Prensa Latina, Markus Glatz, head of cooperation at the Swiss Embassy, described the positive experience as one of learning and growth for all involved.
“We have learned a lot together; we have grown together in the effort to promote the development of this country, especially at the local level. I believe that we have been able to contribute our experience and knowledge to the territorial development of the island,” the diplomat said. Glatz coordinates programmes supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (Cosude).
He said that Cosude “has left its mark and has had a positive impact on public policies, and therefore I believe that something will remain of this agency and of the seeds that we have sown here for the good of the Cuban people and for the development of this country.
Glatz recalled that during these 25 years of cooperation some 20 projects have been carried out, some 12 major programmes and a dozen smaller programmes.
These have ranged from agricultural development (cattle breeding, rice cultivation), local food industries, renewable energy (biogas), women’s empowerment, combating gender-based violence and homophobia, attention to vulnerable people and social inclusion.
Markus Glatz noted that “the government has always supported us; they have always appreciated our approach, which has always been collegial and at the request of local and national authorities.”
Cosude is part of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, which, in partnership with other institutions, is responsible for coordinating Switzerland’s international cooperation around the world, with a particular focus on vulnerable places and populations.
It is part of the foreign policy of this Central European country to contribute to alleviating the hardships caused by poverty and humanitarian conflicts, to uphold human rights and to promote peaceful coexistence between nations.
In the case of Cuba, bilateral relations with Switzerland date back to 1902, when the country became republican and independent and was recognised as such by the Swiss Confederation. It was not until 1957 that the consulate became the Swiss embassy. Exchanges of all kinds continue to this day.
To implement the plans, Bern allocated an annual budget of CHF 5 million for the first few years, and from 2011 until the end of 2024 it was considered a strategic priority programme with an annual budget of between CHF 7 and 12 million.
Cosude started working on the island in 1997, although it was already present in other Latin American countries. Thanks to good bilateral relations, its office was opened in 2000.
As part of a change in international cooperation strategy, the Swiss Parliament decided to phase out its cooperation in Latin America in order to focus its efforts on other vulnerable regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.
As a result, after a long bilateral relationship, the office in Cuba had to close its programme on 31 December last year; however, the Embassy has opened new projects for 2025 in the areas of public-private cooperation in the agri-food sector, culture and social integration, and medical assistance.
Nevertheless, Switzerland remains committed to using other cooperation mechanisms, such as humanitarian aid in emergencies, multilateral instruments and global programmes related to climate change and food security, among others, Glatz said.
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