Welcome to this course on sustainability. As part of its strategy, the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) has increased its efforts to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive economic growth of companies in its partner countries. Considering the social and environmental impacts involved in international trade, SIPPO takes its responsibility to tackle global challenges seriously. It aims to ensure that its Programme adds value in the long term, for its employees, experts, customers and beneficiaries, society, and the environment. For SIPPO, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its Programme activities is an ongoing obligation, which it maintains while taking all relevant stakeholder groups into account.

With the aim to create a common understanding and orientation for staff, BSOs and related companies and consultants, in 2021 and 2022 SIPPO elaborated Guiding Principles for Sustainable Trade (GPST) for the different sectors. They are based on SIPPO’s goals, relevant international policy frameworks and sector specific market requirements.

As a next step, SIPPO aims to create a common understanding and knowledge base on the essential elements of the SIPPO understanding of sustainability among its partners. As such, once you have completed this course, you will be able to:

1. Determine the importance and relevance of sustainability for BSOs/SMEs in the context of export promotion;

2. Identify the dimensions of sustainability and how sustainability is defined within the SIPPO Progamme; and

3. Illustrate how sustainability is applied within the SIPPO Programme.