His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met Tuesday at Lohn Palace in the Swiss capital Bern with President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin, on the occasion of his official visit to Switzerland. An official reception ceremony was held for His Highness the Crown Prince, featuring the national anthems of Kuwait and Switzerland. HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled then exchanged greetings with senior Swiss officials and members of the official Kuwaiti delegation accompanying him.
The visit coincides with celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Switzerland, attended by HH the Crown Prince, President Parmelin and senior officials from both sides. The ceremony highlighted the longstanding ties between the two friendly countries and peoples and the development of bilateral relations across various fields over the past six decades. Both sides affirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation and partnership and expanding bilateral relations in ways that serve their common interests.
Investment cooperation
In the presence of the Crown Prince and President Parmelin, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on promoting direct investment was signed at Lohn Palace. The MoU was signed by Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), on behalf of Kuwait, and Magali Herrault, CEO of Investment Promotion and member of the Executive Board of Swiss Global Investment House (SGI), on behalf of Switzerland. The agreement seeks to establish broader frameworks for economic and investment cooperation and strengthen partnerships in areas of mutual interest, supporting direct investment opportunities and mutual benefits while further consolidating bilateral relations.
Official talks
Official talks between Kuwait and Switzerland were also held in Bern, with the Crown Prince leading the Kuwaiti side and President Parmelin heading the Swiss delegation. At the outset, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to President Parmelin, along with his wishes for continued health and well-being and for Switzerland and its people further progress and prosperity. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to develop cooperation across various fields and expand the frameworks of partnership to serve their common interests.
The talks were attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; KDIPA Director General Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; Kuwait’s Ambassador to Switzerland Yousef Ahmed Abdul-Samad; Assistant Foreign Minister for European Affairs Ambassador Najeeb Abdulrahman Al-Bader; Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva Ambassador Nasser Abdullah Al-Hain; and Major General Ahmed Abdulrahman Al-Daei, Director of the Office of His Highness the Crown Prince.
Swiss envoy
Swiss Ambassador to Kuwait Tiziano Balmelli said Tuesday that the Crown Prince’s official visit to Bern represented an important milestone in strengthening and expanding bilateral relations across several strategic sectors, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Speaking to KUNA, Balmelli described Kuwaiti-Swiss relations as a longstanding friendship based on history and oriented toward the future. He said the two countries share values centered on peace, dialogue and humanitarian cooperation.
He noted that bilateral ties have expanded in several areas, particularly economic cooperation, through business forums, tourism initiatives and improved air connectivity. He also highlighted the close people-to-people ties, noting that many Kuwaiti families regard Switzerland as a “second home.” Balmelli said the Crown Prince’s visit provided an opportunity to advance cooperation in strategic sectors, building on initiatives including Swiss-Kuwaiti Business Days and new seasonal direct flights to Zurich.
He added that the visit could also contribute to strengthening humanitarian cooperation, citing a joint development project in Sudan implemented by the United Nations Development Program with funding from the development agencies of both countries. Recalling key milestones in bilateral relations, Balmelli said the Iraqi invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990 was a significant moment that demonstrated Swiss solidarity with Kuwait. Swiss authorities extended residence permits for hundreds of Kuwaiti families and facilitated the education of their children during the crisis, he said.
He noted that Kuwait and Switzerland marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in Bern in 2016, with the Kuwaiti delegation led by HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled. Balmelli also recalled former Swiss President Alain Berset’s visit to Kuwait in December 2023 to offer condolences following the death of the late Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, describing it as a gesture of friendship that was greatly appreciated by Kuwait.
He noted that former Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis visited Kuwait in October 2025 to inaugurate the new Swiss Embassy, describing the facility as an important investment and a sign of confidence in the future of bilateral relations. The 60th-anniversary celebrations began in 2026 with President Parmelin’s official visit to Kuwait in February. Swiss government records also confirm that the visit focused on the anniversary, economic relations, peace policy and international cooperation.
Balmelli said current cooperation focuses on humanitarian assistance, development, trade and investment, scientific research, air connectivity and tourism. He cited the cooperation agreement between Kuwaiti company KDD and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, as well as the two countries’ contributions as donors to the International Committee of the Red Cross. He said travel and cultural exchanges have also developed significantly, with Kuwait Airways operating three weekly direct flights to Zurich during the summer season, in addition to existing services to Geneva and Milan.
Balmelli said the introduction of five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas has facilitated travel and expressed the Swiss government’s support for a full visa exemption for Kuwaiti passport holders, noting that any such decision would be subject to the relevant European Union procedures. He described the future of Kuwaiti-Swiss relations as “very promising,” anticipating further growth in economic partnerships and tourism.
Balmelli also expressed hope that Swiss companies would return to Kuwait and participate in major infrastructure projects. He stressed the importance of continued cooperation between the two small, trade-dependent countries in promoting dialogue, peace and justice amid international challenges and instability. He added that humanitarian cooperation between Kuwait and Switzerland is expected to expand further in the coming period. Switzerland’s official account of bilateral relations likewise describes the ties as longstanding and friendly, with current cooperation covering peace and security, sustainable development, economic affairs and cultural exchanges.
