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Swiss exporters are thriving in a benign world economy, says Christoph Lindenmeyer, who is the Chairman of the International Economic Relations Commission of Economiesuisse. Conditions that will enable them to continue flourishing include the successful conclusion of negotiations on free trade agreements and a favourable rate for the Swiss currency. After the Swiss National Bank … 
Peter Gisler is the CEO of SERV, the Swiss export risk insurer. He spoke to Swiss Trade about his switch to the insurer last year, the risks exporters face in unstable political situations, the importance of a solid contract between supplier and buyer, and how insurance can help exporters conquer new terrain. You have led …
Everyone is talking about northern Zurich – and with good reason. Oerlikon is justifiably frequently named as a trendy new place to be. It is growing and changing more quickly than any other district of Zurich. More and more young people are moving there and more than 2,000 new apartments were built there last year. …
In an increasingly globalized and digitalized business environment having the right communication skills is paramount. Many companies underestimate the risk for unintended consequences when communication is not adapted to new media channels and the global playing field. Swiss companies have a multi-lingual, international outlook ingrained in their very DNA. But today communication is changing fast. …
The Summer Olympic Games 2020 will be held in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9. They represent the highlight of a series of international events, starting in 2019 with Japan’s presidency of the G-20 and the first Rugby World Cup ever in Asia. The Olympic Games as a major sports event are expected to …
Inspired by the concept of cryptocurrencies, the renowned independent Swiss watch brand Chronoswiss has created five luxurious crypto-design watches. These extravagant models from the Blockchain Series are produced in a limited edition of 101 in each set. The traditional Swiss watch manufacturer Chronoswiss, known for its high standards of quality, showed an early openness to …
Cryptocurrencies have seen sharp rises and dramatic falls this past year. But one thing is certain – electronic cash and the underlying blockchain technology are here to stay and offer exciting investment opportunities. Just like Zug outside of Zürich, Dubai and the United Arab Emirates have developed into dynamic hubs for start-ups in the blockchain …
High up on the green slopes of Le Mont-Pèlerin, among Switzerland’s UNESCO heritage vineyards and only 50 minutes from Geneva Airport by car, lies the splendid Le Mirador Resort & Spa. The hotel is member of “The Leading Hotels of the World” and “Swiss Deluxe Hotels”, and combines inspiring views of the alpine landscape with …
Martin Nydegger, the new CEO of Switzerland Tourism, says his homeland offers tourists the compactness and diversity of a Swiss army knife combined with the reliability of a Swiss watch. No wonder the number of tourists who visit from China, South-East Asia and India has been climbing rapidly over the past four years. At the …
Companies are investing again – and that could mean more digitalisation, less routine labour, but not fewer jobs. The depreciation of the Swiss franc versus the euro in 2017 has helped many exporting companies to at least partially recover their margins. This new situation allows companies to think about investing again. According to surveys, companies’ …
Following the One-China Policy, Switzerland does not recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state. Nevertheless, Taiwan is one of Switzerland’s most important trading partners in Asia. Swiss exports to Taiwan amounted to 1.7 billion Swiss francs in 2016, mainly chemical and pharmaceutical products, watches as well as machines and electronic products. Swiss imports from Taiwan on …
In a VUCA world (V=Volatility, U=Uncertainty, C=Complexity, A=Ambiguity) management and leadership are concepts that can less and less be learnt with textbook knowledge or trained with guidance. In addition to topic-specific modules, the German- and English-speaking ”Executive MBA HSG” programmes at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) stand out thanks to their suitable formats that offer …
Swiss companies have not entered the digital age, according to President Doris Leuthard. In the IMD’s annual global report, Switzerland took second slot behind Hong Kong in general competitiveness. In digital competitiveness, it is only in eighth place. To rank in the top 10 for digital competitiveness is not bad, says Ralf Schlaepfer, the vice-president …
A giant geopolitical infrastructure project, the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ has the potential to become bigger than the Marshall Plan. It is China’s most ambitious economic and diplomatic programme since the founding of the People’s Republic and its scope surpasses that of building the Suez Canal. The superlatives are impressive. But what is Belt and …
Blockchain is the New Internet. 2017 has been explosive for the blockchain sector, with the technology permeating every possible industry, with every country and every corporation talking about it. Switzerland, the most innovative country in the world for 6 years running, emerged as the champion of the technology. Ambrosus took the blockchain technology to the …
How did Swiss-born Erik Vidal wind up selling toothbrushes in Brazil? Vidal laughs at the question. “It all started over a beer with some friends,” he says. It was 2005, and Vidal had just sold the software company he founded in Basel. He was thinking about what to do next. One of his drinking companions …
Hans Keist took over as CEO of Carl Heusser AG at an exciting time. In 2014, when he joined, the company sold construction machinery and pumps. In the past three years, he has overseen a complete transformation – including the purchase and the integration of a small company and a major restructuring. Now Carl Heusser …
High up on the green slopes of Mont-Pèlerin, among Switzerland’s UNESCO heritage vineyards and only 50 minutes from Geneva Airport by car, the luxurious Le Mirador Resort & Spa, member of “The Leading Hotels of the World” and “Swiss Deluxe Hotels”, combines inspiring views of the alpine landscape with a sleek, contemporary design and world-class …
Swiss watches and pharmaceuticals are not alone in enjoying global fame; Swiss medical products are also renowned worldwide. Thanks to a pioneering spirit and inventiveness, the country has always been world leader in implants, hearing aids, diagnostic equipment in cardiac treatment and other areas. In high-tech devices, 3D and robot technology, eHealth solutions and combined …
Amid the rising tide of “fake news”, Swiss media has an ever-larger responsibility. The Russian TV channel Russia Today, China’s CCTV channel and Arab channels such as Al Arabia and Al Jazeera are all being beefed up – and are manipulating the international community with anti-democratic “fake news”. Their goal is to destabilize the global …
Ski in Ski out The charming Arosa Kulm Hotel & Alpin Spa lies 1,850 metres above sea level, surrounded by the impressive Swiss mountain landscape in Arosa, Graubünden/Grisons. In its prime location on a slight elevation in the quiet inner part of the village directly next to the ski lifts and slopes and with its …
The Swiss watch industry – the third largest national exporter after chemicals and machines – is recovering after a difficult year in 2016, caused in part by the strength of the franc and in part by changing conditions in China, one of its most important markets. Figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry …
During this year’s annual conference, the 41 members of SwissCham, a global network of close to 10,000 companies in more than 100 countries, completed a survey regarding their services and their members’ needs to cope with ever increasing challenges in a complex local and international trade environment. The Swiss bilateral chambers of commerce promote, protect …
Economic forecasts by the Swiss government’s expert group are positive, but Switzerland’s strong currency relative to the euro and costly regulations remain major concerns for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The outlook for Swiss exports seems “relatively favourable,” according to forecasts published in September 2016 by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). That’s if …
Global business and digitisation provide new opportunities in our era of fast-paced change, but also present new challenges. Operating in such fast and global business environments requires executives to apply general management skills to new contexts. Broadening horizons Reaching out beyond the borders of a company’s home country requires executives to adapt to new ways …
Looking at the Russian economy today, it is difficult to distinguish the consequences of EU sanctions from the general recession, which began in early 2013 and was exacerbated by the decline of oil and gas prices over the last two years. Russia’s GDP declined by 4% since sanctions were introduced, corresponding to €75 billion at …
The 21st century began with seemingly bewildering opportunities as a new global business horizon unfolded. The latter half of the 20th century or more saw the international economy divided into predominantly autonomous worlds, the so-called first, second and third worlds. Then at the turn of the century, four major discontinuities occurred. The first and probably …
As SERV looks back on its first 10 years, one of the most striking accomplishments is the surge in deals that have been closed, which could not be covered under its predecessor ERG. When it comes to risk, there have been shifts from some markets to others, but overall the risk remains the same on …
Switzerland is an export country, and the euro-franc exchange rate is hindering growth, but Switzerland’s export volume is continuously stable. Why is that? Swiss industry is very efficient and competitive. That is why the majority of businesses can hold their ground despite the unfavourable euro-franc exchange rate – above all the bigger companies, because they …
An association often made with the Swiss labour market is a skills shortage. How is this apparent in your line of business? As Switzerland’s leading ICT-company, Swisscom operates in an extremely dynamic sector. This dynamism particularly affects job profiles and job descriptions within our company, in the sense that requirements are constantly changing. The skills …