Switzerland and Kuwait celebrate their close ties during an official visit by the Crown Prince
Bern, 29.09.2026 — The Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, was received by President Guy Parmelin at the Lohn country residence on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. This is a return visit, following Mr Parmelin’s official visit to Kuwait in February. These high-level meetings are being held to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Both sides emphasised their friendly and long-standing relationship. Mr Parmelin also stressed Switzerland’s solidarity with Kuwait, which has repeatedly been the target of Iranian attacks this year. Switzerland is committed to promoting dialogue and wishes to contribute to the efforts to bring an end to the hostilities. The current situation and international security of supply were also discussed.
The focus of the discussions, however, was the question of how to further strengthen ties between Switzerland and Kuwait and how to expand trade. The sectors identified as having considerable potential were healthcare, fintech, sustainable agriculture and food security.
Economic cooperation is facilitated by a stable legal framework, including the Free Trade Agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a double taxation agreement and a bilateral investment treaty. In the presence of the Swiss president and the Crown Prince, a memorandum of understanding was signed on Tuesday between Switzerland Global Enterprise (SGE) and the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) to promote investment in both countries.
Switzerland and Kuwait also cooperate on development aid and humanitarian aid. Last year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) with the aim of developing new joint initiatives.
Other topics of discussion included current international issues, notably the situations in Iraq and in Gaza. Switzerland and Kuwait are committed to improving the humanitarian situation in the Middle East and to a two-state solution.
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