Swiss President calls Kuwait visit ‘Historic’, eyes stronger economic, scientific ties

2026-02-03 - 08:48

Swiss President Guy Parmelin described his visit to Kuwait as both “historic and significant,” highlighting that it marks the first visit by a Swiss head of state and coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Speaking on the sidelines of a memorandum of understanding signing between the Kuwait Danish Dairy Company (KDD) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), organized by Swiss Ambassador Tiziano Parmigiani at the embassy, Parmelin said he held positive and constructive meetings with His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister. He stressed that these engagements reflect the depth of friendly ties and the shared commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation. President Parmelin emphasized Switzerland’s focus on strengthening economic and scientific collaboration with Kuwait. He noted that all foundational frameworks are already in place, including the free trade agreement with GCC states, the investment protection and promotion treaty, and the double taxation avoidance agreement. The current priority, he said, is to activate these frameworks more effectively, particularly by fostering private-sector engagement and corporate partnerships. Highlighting the Swiss-Kuwaiti Business Day, Parmelin described it as a key platform for Swiss companies seeking to expand in Kuwait, noting that the number of Swiss firms operating in the country continues to grow. He stressed that personal and human relationships form the core of the bilateral partnership, with business leaders and entrepreneurs serving as the driving force behind decades of successful cooperation. On innovation, Parmelin pointed to the MoU with ETH Zurich, emphasizing that linking business with scientific research is crucial for developing innovative projects and joint ventures. He also announced that the GCC-Switzerland strategic dialogue will take place soon, utilizing existing agreements to encourage private sector-led investment and collaborative initiatives. Concluding his remarks, Parmelin underlined that his visit aims to boost the practical use of existing agreements, encourage Swiss and Kuwaiti companies to leverage available frameworks, and further enhance economic and investment partnerships between the two nations. Ambassador Parmigiani described the event as a fitting celebration of 60 years of Kuwaiti-Swiss relations, noting that President Parmelin also serves as head of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research and hails from the canton of Vaud, which maintains close ties with many Kuwaitis. The occasion also featured the signing of the KDD-ETH Zurich cooperation agreement and welcomed several Swiss firms participating in the first Swiss-Kuwaiti Business Day, organized by the Swiss-Kuwaiti Business Platform.