Closure of Swiss consulates general in Karachi and Los Angeles

Under Federal Council instructions, the FDFA consulted the Foreign Affairs Committees (FACs) at their respective meetings on 29 January and 12 February 2018, which acknowledged the closures to take place by 31 December 2018. Unlike the Swiss embassy in Islamabad and consulate general in San Francisco, the Swiss consulates general in Karachi and Los Angeles no longer provide consular services. The Swiss consulate general in Karachi has limited opportunities to engage in promoting Swiss business, trade and tourism.

The consulate general in San Francisco and the various actors (swissnex, Swiss Business Hub and Switzerland Tourism) which share its premises at Pier 17 constitute an important hub of Swiss expertise for the entire West Coast, particularly in the areas of science, innovation, business promotion and international communication.

The FDFA also informed the Federal Council that it had taken due note of the request of the Foreign Affairs Committees to consider reopening the consulate general in Chicago, as it would help to further Switzerland's economic interests in the Midwest. The request is currently being considered.

Switzerland's network abroad currently comprises some 170 representations. It is regularly adapted, based on Switzerland's interests, developments in political and economic centres of gravity and the available financial resources. Since 1990, the network has been expanded with the opening of 24 embassies, 12 consulates general have been opened, in particular in major cities in developing countries, and 34 consulates general have been closed, mainly in the United States and Western Europe. These closures are a consequence of easier travel and technical and technological progress in the provision of consular services.

Address for enquiries:

FDFA Information
Tel. +41 58 462 31 53
info@eda.admin.ch

Publisher:

The Federal Council
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs