Switzerland cuts development aid in 2018: gov't report

Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-12 03:32:44|Editor: yan
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GENEVA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland's official development assistance (ODA) trimmed slightly to 0.44 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) last year, down from the United Nations target of 0.7 percent, the government said Thursday.

"After meeting Parliament's goal of 0.5 percent in 2015 and 2016, Swiss ODA fell to 0.46 percent in 2017 which means that it is now below target for the second year running," the Swiss Federal Council said on its website.

The figure for 2018 is also below the 2018 European Union average of 0.47 percent of GNI.

Total Swiss ODA spending in 2018 was just over 3 billion Swiss francs (3 billion U.S. dollars), down 68 million Swiss francs on the previous year.

In a statement, the foreign ministry attributed the decline to a decrease in asylum-related costs and cuts decided by Switzerland's parliament.

It said that most of Swiss ODA (80 percent) goes to international development projects that "help reduce poverty and global risks, promote peace and respect for human rights, and mitigate the causes of forced displacement and irregular migration."

"Switzerland also contributes to sustainable, environmentally-friendly development worldwide, particularly in terms of sustainable resource management," the foreign ministry said.

In 2018, Sweden, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, and the United Kingdom reached the United Nation's 0.7 percent target of GNI to be spent on ODA.

Switzerland is placed eighth in international rankings compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, said the Federal Council.

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