Haiti and Switzerland maintain close relations, with a particularly strong commitment from Switzerland at the civil society level. An important factor linking the two countries is the French language. Following the 2010 and 2021 earthquakes and various natural disasters (hurricanes) in 2016 and 2017, Switzerland supported Haiti with humanitarian aid.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Haiti
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
The Swiss representation in Port-au-Prince was upgraded to an embassy in July 2011. Switzerland's activities in the country, which initially focused on international cooperation programmes and projects, have now expanded to include humanitarian aid, development cooperation, human security and cooperation as part of the Francophonie.
A large number of Swiss NGOs are active in Haiti, some 20 of which have joined forces in the association 'Plate-Forme Haïti de Suisse'.
Switzerland and Haiti signed a framework agreement on technical cooperation and humanitarian aid in July 2014. In March 2023, the Swiss embassy was converted into a humanitarian office. Diplomatic relations with Haiti are now covered by the embassy in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).
Economic cooperation
Trade between Switzerland and Haiti is limited in scale. In 2023 Switzerland imported goods worth CHF 4.6 million from Haiti. In the same year, Swiss exports to Haiti totalled CHF 870,000.
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Researchers and artists who are citizens of Haiti can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
Switzerland has supported development projects in Haiti since the late 1990s. It significantly increased its humanitarian commitment in the wake of the devastating earthquake of 2010. Switzerland's development cooperation strategy for Haiti is a long-term one.
Until 2024, Switzerland's work in this area focused on the rule of law, good governance, agriculture, food security, reconstruction and disaster risk reduction. As part of its bilateral development cooperation and humanitarian aid activities, Switzerland supports Haiti with an average of CHF 17.6 million per year, equivalent to CHF 88 million for the period 2018-22. Swiss bilateral cooperation will withdraw from the region by the end of 2024, although humanitarian work will continue.
Cultural exchange
Switzerland participates in, among other things, funding the Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival.
Swiss nationals in Haiti
At the end of 2023 there were 75 Swiss nationals living in Haiti.
History of bilateral relations
In 1804 Haiti, then a French colony, declared its independence. Switzerland immediately recognised the young state. Following the end of the American occupation, Switzerland opened an honorary consulate in Haiti in 1935. This became a consulate in 1959, a consulate general in 2006, and finally an embassy in 2011. Since March 2023, diplomatic relations with Haiti have been covered by the Swiss embassy in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).
Since June 2011, consular duties have been carried out by the regional consular centre in Santo Domingo.
