Indonesia–Switzerland relations
Indonesia and Switzerland established diplomatic relations in 1951. In 2010, their leaders agreed to start negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Switzerland also named Indonesia as one of seven priority countries for economic development cooperation.
Indonesia has an embassy in Bern, while Switzerland has an embassy in Jakarta, which is also accredited to East Timor and ASEAN.
Historically, Swiss people began to settle in the Indonesian archipelago in the 17th century. A Swiss consulate was opened in Batavia (now Jakarta) in 1863, followed by another in Medan. Switzerland recognized the Indonesian republic in 1949, and official bilateral relations were established on 2 November 1951 with the Swiss embassy in Jakarta.
Switzerland provided aid after major disasters in Indonesia, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the May 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, and the September 2009 Sumatra earthquakes. Today, the relationship covers economy, trade, investments, tourism, education and culture.
In 2013, bilateral trade was about US$260 million. In 2011, Switzerland had a trade surplus of 277.1 million Swiss francs; Indonesia exported textiles, garments and footwear to Switzerland, while Switzerland exported industrial machinery to Indonesia.
Swiss direct investment in Indonesia reached about 7 billion Swiss francs in 2010, with around 70 Swiss companies operating there and employing roughly 45,000 people. Swiss firms are strong in food, pharmaceuticals, agricultural biotechnology, banking and insurance, with Nestlé as a notable example, running three factories in Indonesia.
In 1973, the Indonesian and Swiss governments signed an agreement to establish a Polytechnic for Mechanics at the Bandung Institute of Technology. It is now the Bandung State Polytechnic for Manufacture.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:27 (CET).