President Guy Parmelin pays visit to Saudi Arabia
Berne, 23.04.2026 — President Guy Parmelin travelled to Jeddah on 22 and 23 April for a presidential visit marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia. He held bilateral talks with His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and with the Minister of Investment, Fahad bin Abduljalil Al-Saif. Meetings were also held with representatives from the business community.
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical tensions, it is essential to maintain and strengthen bilateral relations with this long-standing partner, whose strategic importance remains undiminished.
Discussions during the president’s official meetings focused on the situation in the region and bilateral relations. The visit served to strengthen cooperation, both at the institutional level and across different economic sectors, with a view to better preparing for the future.
Mr Parmelin was accompanied by a high-level business delegation comprising representatives from major Swiss companies across various sectors. He also took part in a roundtable discussion with businesses.
In addition, a new agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments was signed.
Switzerland and Saudi Arabia enjoy good trade relations and have a free trade agreement in place through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as a double taxation agreement. Saudi Arabia is Switzerland’s third-largest trading partner in the Middle East.