The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) and Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO) today announced a direct data linkage between Switzerland’s UID business registry and the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) system. This integration embeds a one-click URL in each Swiss entity’s LEI record, granting immediate access to the official UID registry entry and related documentation.
Switzerland assigns every active company a unique identification number (UID), managed by the FSO to ensure accurate business identity data. By linking the UID register directly into the Global LEI Index—an open, authoritative database of legal entity references—users can bypass manual steps in due diligence workflows such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Supplier (KYS). This streamlines processes by eliminating the need to locate and translate registry information before verifying an organization’s credentials.
The initiative promises particular benefits for Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which comprise over 99% of the country’s businesses and account for two-thirds of employment. Easier discoverability through the LEI can help these firms overcome barriers to international visibility and credibility.
“GLEIF and the Swiss Federal Statistical Office share a commitment to enabling greater transparency and digital trust in global markets,” said Alexandre Kech, CEO of GLEIF. “Through this collaboration, we are making global due diligence far more efficient and highlighting the value of the LEI in facilitating international trade. By linking LEI records with authoritative business registries, GLEIF is building a globally interoperable digital identity infrastructure that promotes financial integrity, regulatory efficiency, and economic opportunity.”
This collaboration builds on earlier linkages between the LEI system and other registries, including the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK) and the UK’s Companies House. GLEIF is now inviting additional business registries to join the effort, further cementing the LEI’s role as a universal connector to official corporate data worldwide.
For more information, visit the GLEIF website.
