LOUISIANA CONNECTION

RECENT NEWS In January 2015, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal visited Switzerland as part of a European economic development effort.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT Switzerland is a major investor in Louisiana, accounting for over $4.6 million in capital expenditures and over 16 jobs since 2003.

In addition, in February 2015, Viking Cruises announced the selection of as the homeport for Viking River Cruises’ first North American itineraries. Viking’s new service will result in the creation of 416 new direct jobs, with an average salary of $40,000, plus benefits.

TRADE

EXPORTS Louisiana exported $56.3 million worth of goods to Switzerland in 2016.Top Louisiana exports to Switzerland include Petroleum and Coal Products ($48.6 million), chemical products ($3 million), and CONTACT INFORMATION food manufacturers ($2.2 million). GEERT HOVENS Chief Representative Germany, Austria, Switzerland IMPORTS [email protected] Louisiana also imports heavily from Switzerland: nearly $310.3 T +31.478.50.81.65 million worth of goods in 2016, an increase of 709 percent since M +31.652.32.35.42 2012. Top imports from Switzerland include chemical products ($284.9 million); fabricated metal products ($9.3 million); and ALEXANDRA MORA machinery and mechanical appliances ($6.6 million). Honorary Consul of Switzerland [email protected] SWISS COMPANIES IN LOUISIANA T 504.566.0233 • ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) • Piaget • Boldomatic • Qumram • Capital Dynamics • Swiss Post • WISeKey • Compagnie Financiere • Swiss Post Solutions • Zuhlke Group Richemont • Transmedia • iConcerts • InSphero Communications • icapital.biz • Nespresso • United Bank Of Switzerland • Nestle (UBS)

OPPORTUNITYLOUISIANA.COM LOUISIANA CONNECTION SWITZERLAND

CASE STUDY In February 2015, Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen announced the selection of New Orleans as the homeport for Viking River Cruises’ first North American river cruise itineraries. The cruises will operate from docking facilities near the French Quarter in New Orleans. Viking’s new service will result in the creation of 416 new direct jobs for Louisiana-based operations and vessel crews, with an average salary of $40,000, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 368 new indirect jobs, for a total of more than 780 new jobs in the Southeast Region of the state. n January 2015, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Hagen met at Viking’s operational headquarters in Switzerland to discuss the new itineraries and the impact the project will have on New Orleans and the region. Plans call for the construction of six new vessels over the next three years at an estimated cost of $90 million to $100 million per vessel, all of which will be built in U.S. shipyards and crewed by U.S. citizens.

“The Viking team is very proud to partner with the State of Louisiana, and we are grateful for the support of Governor Jindal. We are excited about the prospect of bringing modern river-cruising to the Mississippi, a river that has been traveled by explorers for centuries. We know our passengers will enjoy the rich history, culture and cuisine of all the great cities and towns along the Mississippi River from New Orleans to St. Paul. Together with our U.S. partners, we take great pride in the economic benefit that river-cruising provides to the regions our guests visit, from the shipbuilders to the local businesses.”

Torstein Hagen Chairman, Viking Cruises

617 N 3RD ST, BATON ROUGE, LA 70802 800.450.8115 OPPORTUNITYLOUISIANA.COM