Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER

The EAER defines the framework conditions for the economy, the labour market and agriculture, and represents Switzerland’s economic and scientific interests internationally. The EAER is responsible for organising vocational education and training and promotes research. It also secures Switzerland’s supply of vital goods.

Guy Parmelin Head of the EAER.

Member of the Federal Council since 2016.

President of the Swiss Confederation in 2026.

Free trade agreements have a particular advantage in times of uncertainty in trade policy.

Priorities of the EAER in 2026

Switzerland is an open economy with a small domestic market. Particularly in turbulent times for trade policy, it is important that Swiss exporters have broad, well-regulated access to foreign markets. This is why Switzerland – in addition to its participation in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) convention and its agreements with the European Union (EU) – maintains a network of 35 free trade agreements (FTAs) with 45 partners. FTAs saved Swiss companies around CHF 2.2 billion in customs duties in 2023, with more than half of these savings going to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Diversifying trade relations and opening up new markets are important goals of Swiss foreign trade policy. In recent years, Switzerland has concluded new FTAs with India, Kosovo, Thailand, Malaysia and the MERCOSUR countries, and modernised its existing agreements with Chile and Ukraine. Negotiations are also under way to conclude a new FTA with Vietnam and to modernise those with China and the United Kingdom.

The new FTAs with India (in force since October 2025) and the MERCOSUR states of South America (signed in September 2025) could lead to annual savings of around CHF 350 million.

Expenses 2024 (CHF)
12,85bn

Staff (FTEs) 2024
2,268

Organisation chart EAER

General Secretariat GS-EAER
Secretary General: Nathalie Goumaz
www.wbf.admin.ch/en

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
State Secretary: Helene Budliger-Artieda
www.seco.admin.ch

State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
State Secretary: Martina Hirayama
www.seri.admin.ch

Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG
Director: Christian Hofer
www.blw.admin.ch/en

Federal Office for National Economic Supply FONES
Delegate: Roland Pfister
www.fones.admin.ch

Federal Office for Housing FOH
Director: Martin Tschirren
www.bwo.admin.ch

Federal Office for Civilian Service CIVI
Director: Christoph Hartmann
www.zivi.admin.ch

Autonomous organisations

Office of the Price Supervisor
Price Supervisor: Stefan Meierhans
www.preisueberwacher.admin.ch

Competition Commission COMCO
Director: Patrik Ducrey
www.weko.admin.ch

Board of the Federal Institutes of Technology ETH
President of the ETH Board: Michael O. Hengartner
ethrat.ch/en

Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training SFIVET
Director: Barbara Fontanellaz
www.sfivet.swiss

Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse
Director: Dominique Gruhl-Bégin
www.innosuisse.admin.ch/en