Swiss authorities establish a direct data connection between the national statistics office and a global business identification body
In a significant move to enhance transparency and digital trust in global markets, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) has teamed up with Switzerland's Federal Statistical Office. This partnership aims to integrate Switzerland’s official business registry data (UID) directly into the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) records of Swiss businesses [1][3].
The collaboration seeks to streamline due diligence processes like Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Supplier (KYS) for international users by simplifying access to authoritative, verified identity information [1][5]. By embedding a direct URL link in each LEI record that connects to the official UID register, the partnership provides one-click access to verified registration data and documentation of Swiss companies [1][3].
This integration creates a globally interoperable digital identity infrastructure that promotes digital trust, regulatory compliance, and efficient information sharing in international business transactions [1][3]. The LEI, based on the ISO 17442 standard developed by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO), serves as a comprehensive global data connector, improving regulatory reporting, transparency, and risk management worldwide [1][3].
GLEIF, headquartered in Basel, has about 60 staff and is overseen by a Regulatory Oversight Committee comprising public authority representatives from across the globe. The non-profit organization's commitment, as stated by CEO Alexandre Kech, is to enable greater transparency and digital trust in global markets by making global due diligence more efficient [2].
The partnership with Switzerland follows a similar arrangement announced with the UK's business registry, Companies House, just over six months ago [6]. As of June 2025, the 'Global LEI System Statistics Dashboard' shows that 23,064 businesses in Switzerland have an LEI, with 6,838 described as 'lapsed' [7]. In comparison, in the UK, just four percent (195,407) of the five million-plus limited companies registered have an active LEI, with 112,309 of those being 'lapsed' [4].
GLEIF is looking to engage more business registries around the world, aiming to leverage the LEI as a central data connector to further enhance global corporate transparency and advance the fight against economic crime. The organisation is also building a globally interoperable digital identity infrastructure using the LEI to promote financial integrity, regulatory efficiency, and economic opportunity [8].
In addition, GLEIF and the US-headquartered Open Ownership recently launched the Global Open Data Integration Network (GODIN) to foster open data practices and collaboration among organisations that publish open data or set open data standards [9]. The Global LEI Index, to which each LEI links, is a 'data bank' that anyone, anywhere can access free of charge.
The Bank of England has mandated the use of LEIs for payments between financial institutions from 1 May 2025 in the UK [5]. As more countries and businesses adopt the LEI, the global business environment is poised to become more transparent, efficient, and trustworthy through accessible, standardized, and verifiable entity data [1][3][5].
References: [1] GLEIF press release: https://www.gleif.org/en/news/gleif-and-swiss-federal-statistical-office-integrate-business-registry-data-into-lei-records [2] GLEIF CEO statement: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6884311251789999104 [3] Swiss Federal Statistical Office press release: https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/aktuell/news/nachrichtenarchiv-2022/2022/04/integration-der-swiss-enterprise-identification-number-uid-in-die-lei-datenbank.html [4] UK Companies House data: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/active-and-lapsed-uk-leis-by-month [5] Bank of England mandate: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/prudential-regulation/policy-statements/policy-statements/ps21-18-lei-guidance-for-firms.pdf [6] GLEIF-Companies House partnership: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/companies-house-and-gleif-team-up-to-boost-global-business-transparency [7] Global LEI System Statistics Dashboard: https://lei-stats.org/ [8] GLEIF's mission: https://www.gleif.org/en/about-us/mission [9] GODIN launch: https://openownership.org/news/gleif-and-openownership-launch-global-open-data-integration-network-godin/
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