ABSTRACT
Main forces Frequently development policy considerations have been relegated to second place during 1996, particularly when they have come into conflict with Switzerland’s economic interests. Discussions on the revision of law concerning what weapons and equipment should be designated as ‘war material’, and export risk guarantees which have favoured the promotion of Swiss exports regardless of the humanitarian consequences are there to bear witness to this. In a situation of globalisation and liberalisation of the world economy, development cooperation has tended to concentrate more on the private sector. This tendency has been very marked in 1996 with the four yearly renewal of the Framework Credit, which set the funding and objectives for economic and trade policy measures under Swiss Development Cooperation.
