prosperity and security. As well as promoting this development by helping Swiss companies to seize opportunities, Switzerland should also expand its political presence in the region. The Middle East is one of the most important regions for Switzerland’s security. Unlike Africa, the Middle East’s overall economic importance is likely to stagnate or even decline. The region is witnessing momentous upheavals, with numerous geopolitical, ethnic and religious lines of conflict reducing the prospects for stabilisation. Violent conflict, poor governance, increasing water scarcity, population growth and youth unemployment rates as high as 30%: these are the realities. Growing numbers of migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean are to be expected. It is in Switzerland’s interest to prevent the region from destabilising further and to assist it in achieving progress. Preventing and defusing conflicts, exercising protecting power mandates, water diplomacy, respect for international humanitarian law and promoting regional cooperation are potential elements of a firm engagement for peace. Switzerland has an interest in improving economic prospects in this region too. Efforts to encourage start-ups and young entrepreneurs could be stepped up, in the occupied Palestinian territory for instance. The rights of individuals as entrepreneurs and employees could be strengthened by giving them access to formal markets. There is the potential for greater cooperation with certain countries in the areas of business, science and academia, and finance. As in Africa, refugees in the Middle East should receive support locally. Asia presents a major opportunity for Switzerland in business terms. According to the OECD, by 2028 four of the five largest national economies in this region – China, Japan, Indonesia and India – will generate half of global GDP. By 2030, two thirds of the world’s middle class will live in Asia. Asia’s share in Swiss foreign trade rose from just under 12% to over 23% in the last decade. Asia is also becoming a centre of world politics, making Switzerland’s presence in the region all the more important. As far as security policy is concerned, Asia is less directly relevant than Africa or the Middle East. Nevertheless, Switzerland has an interest in resolving conflicts peacefully and promoting cooperative security structures. Bilateral relations with China already cover a wide range of areas. There is potential to build on relations with other countries, including India, which will become more important to the Swiss economy while also playing an anchor role for democracy in the region. The focus in the Americas is on relations with the United States. Switzerland’s interests elsewhere in this region are less prominent. It has economic interests in Latin America and the Caribbean. Bilateral economic relations with these countries could be expanded. One important topic is cooperation in combating corruption. Switzerland also works closely with a large number of these states in a multilateral setting, especially when it comes Youthunemployment unemploymentinin Middle East North Africa Youth thethe Middle East andand North Africa 50 40 30 20 10 0 Algeria 24.30 Bahrain 5.51 Egypt 34.43 Iran 29.94 Iraq 16.75 Israel 7.28 Jordan 39.76 Kuwait 15.97 Lebanon 17.55 Libya 45.94 Morocco 17.96 Oman 8.46 Qatar 0.41 Saudi Arabia 25.02 Syria 35.13 Tunisia 36.33 UAE 4.93 Yemen 25.74 Percentage of unemployed 15–24-year-olds Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. September 2018 17 2028 Foreign Policy Vision World 13.37