Sustainability now has a high priority everywhere, and rightly so. Sustainable development is one of the greatest global challenges of our time. However, focusing solely on the environmental aspects of sustainability is insufficient. After all, sustainability also includes economic and social dimensions as well. Therefore, holistic solutions are required, and a strong involvement of business is the key to success in this area. After all, the UN considers international trade to be a driving force for sustainable development. 

Trade in goods and services and foreign direct investment reduce poverty, improve the quality of life of many people and have a long-term positive impact on the environment. This requires good governance in the individual countries and responsible companies. Thanks to their comparably high sustainability standards and premium products, Swiss companies contribute significantly to sustainable development in the world. They are among the most important foreign direct investors, especially in developing countries. This often involves a strong commitment to training and the transfer of modern technologies.

In order to be able to exert a positive influence in the future, Swiss companies must have unrestricted access to global markets. In a time of faltering multilateral trade liberalisation, countries increasingly rely on bilateral free trade agreements. These agreements are essentially economic agreements aimed at reducing trade barriers. Of central importance are also intergovernmental organisations (UN, OECD, WTO, etc.) which negotiate and develop sustainability standards. As in the past, Switzerland should continue to play an active role here.