Bilateral relations Switzerland–Kyrgyzstan

Switzerland enjoys an excellent reputation in this Central Asian republic. A major donor in terms of development cooperation, Switzerland is also an important trading partner for Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is a member of Switzerland’s voting groups in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility.

Switzerland is also closely involved in water diplomacy in Central Asia. The ‘Blue Peace Central Asia’ initiative promotes regional cooperation between the five countries of Central Asia and encourages the development, at both technical and political levels, of cross-border projects linked to water management.

International Monetary Fund

World Bank

Global Environment Facility

Treaty Database

Blue Peace: Water as an element of security

Switzerland is one of the main buyers of Kyrgyz gold and is therefore an important trading partner for Kyrgyzstan, although trade in other areas remains modest.

Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise

SECO Economic Cooperation and Development

Joint Chamber of Commerce Switzerland

Researchers from Kyrgyzstan can apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to the State Secretariat for Education Research and Innovation (SERI).

SERI: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists

Kyrgyzstan is one of the priority countries for Swiss development cooperation. The SDC and SECO focus their activities on 1) water, infrastructure and climate change, 2) governance, human rights and services, and 3) inclusive and sustainable economic development.

For the period 2022-25, the SDC and SECO are devoting an annual budget of around CHF 20 million to Kyrgyzstan. 

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid (Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)

According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, there are 53 Swiss citizens living in Kyrgyzstan in 2024.

Switzerland recognised Kyrgyzstan’s independence on 23 December 1991, and diplomatic relations were formally established on 14 February 1992. The Swiss embassy in Moscow initially handled diplomatic relations. From 1993 to 2012, the Swiss embassy in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent was responsible for Kyrgyzstan.

A Swiss cooperation office was opened in Bishkek in 1993, which was upgraded to an embassy in November 2012. Kyrgyzstan has a mission to the international organisations in Geneva whose ambassador has been accredited to Bern since 1996.

Kyrgyzstan, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)