SECO Economic Cooperation and Development

What SECO Economic Cooperation and Development does

SECO Economic Cooperation and Development is the economic development cooperation division of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), headquartered in Bern and operating as the federal centre of competence for Switzerland's economic development cooperation. Its function is to promote socially, environmentally, and climate-compatible economic growth in partner countries through bilateral and multilateral programs, with a thematic focus on sustainable infrastructure, urban development, private sector development, trade policy, and good framework conditions for investment. The unit employs approximately 104 staff in Bern (88 full-time equivalents) and is led by Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri; programs are implemented through Swiss cooperation offices and embassies worldwide.

The division manages approximately 2 billion CHF (18% of Switzerland's international cooperation budget) for the 2025-2028 period, deploying funds via country cooperation programs (Morocco 2025-2028, Kosovo 2026-2029, Serbia through 2029, Ukraine reconstruction), flagship multilateral partnerships (PIDG, African Development Fund, UNCTAD chairmanship), and development-finance instruments such as SIFEM AG. It does not sell a commercial product or use a proprietary technology stack; its "product" is policy expertise, program management capabilities, and the deployment of public funds blended with Swiss private sector capital.

The business model is government budget allocation: SECO receives an earmarked portion of Switzerland's international cooperation budget and disburses it through direct government-to-government programs, public calls for proposals (e.g., Ukraine reconstruction calls of 150 million CHF and 50 million CHF), and contributions to multilateral organizations. Customer segments are developing and middle-income partner countries (with explicit focus on urban areas in those countries), and revenue/predictability is tied to the Federal Council's multi-year IZA framework — most recently reaffirmed on 24 June 2026 with ~2.4 billion CHF annual IZA envelope through 2029 and a ~20 million CHF annual efficiency adjustment from 2027.

Name

SECO Economic Cooperation and Development

Legal name

Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO - Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung

Website

https://seco-cooperation.admin.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SECO Economic Cooperation and Development is the Swiss federal division that manages approximately 2 billion CHF (18% of Switzerland's international cooperation budget) for 2025-2028, running economic development cooperation programs in partner countries focused on sustainable growth, infrastructure, and private sector development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Development Cooperation

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), National Security and International Affairs (9281)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC), Regional Economic Integration & Economic Corridors (BPADAMAH)

Keywords

• Economic development cooperation
• International development programs
• Sustainable infrastructure finance
• Development finance institution
• Bilateral cooperation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: SECO's Economic Cooperation and Development unit manages approximately 2 billion CHF (18% of Switzerland's international cooperation budget 2025-2028) as part of Swiss federal government funding.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SECO Economic Cooperation and Development is the Swiss federal competence center for economic development cooperation, supporting partner developing and middle-income countries in creating favorable framework conditions for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. It delivers bilateral cooperation programs (Morocco 2025-2028, Kosovo 2026-2029, Serbia through 2029), Ukraine reconstruction projects, the Innovative Cities and Infrastructure Program (with ETH Zürich), sustainable infrastructure initiatives (with PIDG), and the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Coffee, financed by approximately 2 billion CHF (18%) of Switzerland's 2025-2028 international cooperation budget.

Product overview

SECO Economic Cooperation and Development (Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO) operates as Switzerland's federal competence center for economic development cooperation, managed under the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It implements approximately 18 percent (around 2 billion CHF) of Switzerland's international cooperation budget for 2025-2028. The organization does not offer a traditional commercial product or platform; instead, it delivers economic development programs including sustainable infrastructure development, urban development initiatives, private sector engagement, and thematic cooperation programs such as the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Coffee and the Innovative Cities and Infrastructure Program developed in collaboration with ETH Zürich. The unit employs 104 staff members in Bern and manages programs through Swiss cooperation offices and embassies globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Cooperation and Development Programs SECO's core bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs supporting partner developing countries in creating favorable framework conditions for sustainable and inclusive economic development, with a focus on cities, trade policy, and labor market policy.
• Sustainable Infrastructure Development Sustainable infrastructure development initiatives supporting developing countries in building sustainable infrastructure, mobilizing private sector capital for development through instruments such as PIDG support (70 million USD).
• Swiss Platform for Sustainable Coffee SECO-supported platform promoting sustainable coffee production in partner countries through collaboration with Swiss private-sector actors.
• Innovative Cities and Infrastructure Program Program developed in collaboration with ETH Zürich supporting innovative urban development and infrastructure solutions in partner developing countries, with a first Call for Proposals launched on 21 July 2026.
• Ukraine Reconstruction Cooperation Program Bilateral cooperation program supporting Ukraine's reconstruction through co-financing of investment projects with the Swiss private sector across infrastructure (energy, housing), public transport, health, and humanitarian demining. Third Call for Proposals launched 27 May 2026 with up to 50 million CHF in co-financing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Switzerland's APD (public development aid) reached 3.8 billion CHF in 2025, representing 0.46% of gross national income
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ETH ZürichflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2026Collaboration in the framework of the new program 'Innovative Cities and Infrastructure' with the first call for proposals launched. ETH Zürich provides academic expertise for urban development and infrastructure innovation in developing countries.
• UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Switzerland assumed the chair of the 16th Ministerial Meeting of UNCTAD. UNCTAD supports developing countries in reducing inequalities and creating prosperity for all through trade and development.
• Swiss Private Sector CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Swiss private sector for Ukraine reconstruction projects. 12 projects in infrastructure (energy, housing), public transport, health, and humanitarian demining. Third call for proposals launched with up to 50 million CHF for co-financing.
• Swiss Platform for Sustainable CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSECO supports the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Coffee, promoting sustainable coffee production.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Norad (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation): Norway's development cooperation agency under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Comparable in size, mandate, and country-portfolio approach; frequently co-finances the same multilateral funds (e.g., African Development Fund, PIDG).
• USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development): U.S. government agency for international development. Although much larger, it is a directly comparable instrument delivering bilateral economic and humanitarian assistance with similar program architecture (calls for proposals, country strategies, multilateral contributions).
• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): UK government department responsible for foreign aid and development policy. Comparable in administering bilateral development programs and channeling funds to multilateral institutions like PIDG and the African Development Fund.
• Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA): South Korea's bilateral development agency. Runs country programs with a comparable economic-development emphasis and similar grant-based instruments, although with a stronger focus on sharing Korea's industrialization experience.
• DANIDA (Danish International Development Agency): Denmark's bilateral development cooperation arm within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Operates comparable economic and trade-focused programs in middle-income partner countries, often alongside EU and multilateral partners.
• Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS): Italy's public agency for international development. Similar mandate executing bilateral cooperation programs on behalf of a national government, with comparable scale and emphasis on economic partnerships.
• Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida): Sweden's government agency for bilateral development cooperation. Comparable in mandate, scale of bilateral country programs, and emphasis on economic and environmental sustainability in partner countries.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency): Japan's government-implemented development cooperation agency. Runs bilateral cooperation programs, infrastructure investments, and concessional finance for partner countries with a similar economic-development lens.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Germany's federal agency for international development cooperation. Operates a comparable mandate implementing bilateral economic and technical cooperation programs on behalf of a national government, with similar project portfolios in partner countries and joint multilateral work.
• Agence Française de Développement (AFD): France's bilateral development finance institution. Channels public funds into sustainable economic development, infrastructure, and climate programs in partner countries — directly analogous to SECO's mandate and instrument mix.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SECO_CH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@secoeconomiccooperationand4196
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seco-cooperation
• Instagraminstagram.com/seco_cooperation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SECO Economic Cooperation and Development