Switzerland. Leading Center of Innovation. invest-in-switzerland.com Publishing details Published by Osec, Communication and Marketing, Zurich Text Infel AG, Zurich Design effact AG, Zurich Print Sonderegger Druck AG, Weinfelden Languages Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian Contents. SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE Reliable governance. 5 Social, fair and motivating. 6 Solid purchasing power. 7 Diversity in practice. 8 Intelligent, federalistic taxation. 9 QUICK AND SIMPLE Where pioneering spirit has a future. 11 A sought-after base. 12 Wellness for investors. 13 Talent is always welcome. 14 INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY Hotspot for research and development. 17 Education is our greatest capital. 18 Strong financial center. 19 Space for intellectual property. 20 Globally significant industry clusters. 21 World-renowned innovations. 22 QUALITY AND LIFE A place where life is enjoyable. 25 Unlimited information flow. 26 At the heart of Europe. 27 Infrastructures that tick like clockwork. 28 Where proximity is an advantage. 30 The location is the goal. 31 SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE SECURITY AND CONFIDENCE Reliable governance. Secure, stable, open, tolerant. Political stability, a federal system, There is a high degree of grassroots Switzerland has four official languages: an extensive global trading network – involvement in politics. Referenda, German, French, Italian and Romansh. these mainstays of Switzerland repre- initiatives and compulsory resolutions English is widely used in business. The sent security, growth and success. allow voters to play an important role in coexistence of different cultures (foreign- the political process. This system of direct ers make up more than 20 percent of the The Swiss governmental system is built on democracy is unique in Europe. All the population) contributes to a climate of the principle of federalism. It comprises major parties are represented in the openness and tolerance. With its many three political levels: the federal govern- national government and in the cabinets location advantages, the country offers ment, 26 cantons and some 2,500 of the cantons. The stability of the political the best prerequisites for forward-looking communes. The cantons enjoy a wide system guarantees a high degree of research, production and service compa- range of powers and have ample freedom reliability for the economy and makes nies. It is not surprising then that Switzer- of action in relation to healthcare, potential risks calculable. land is perceived to be one of the most education and culture. Each commune attractive business locations in the world. sets its own communal tax rate for The Swiss economy is distinguished by a individuals. high level of innovation, a well-developed business culture and an efficient labor market. Politics. Swiss political system www.admin.ch «Switzerland’s success as a business location is based on political stability, efficient administrative processes and high education standards. « VOLKER HERRE, MANAGING DIRECTOR HUGO BOSS (SWITZERLAND) LTD Switzerland 5 Security and confidence Social, fair and motivating. A good atmosphere in the workplace. A partnership relationship between Employers and unions work together in Employees are generally highly motivated, employer and employee is not the social partnership. Disputes are settled at very reliable and extremely committed. exception in Switzerland, but rather the negotiating table, which means that Those employed by small and medium- the norm, with both sides benefitting. strikes are rare. The social security system sized companies in particular often tend to places a strong emphasis on individual identify personally with «their» company. The Swiss economy is one of the most responsibility, and so Swiss social security productive in the world. The labor market costs are moderate by international is lightly regulated and employment law standards. is liberal. Unemployment is low and has remained below 4 percent for the last decade. The high level of total working hours contributes to workplace productivity. «Thanks to trusting partnership relationships, Bayer has been operating successfully in Switzerland since 1954. « RAINER SCHORR, BAYER REPRESENTATIVE IN SWITZERLAND 6 Switzerland Solid purchasing power. Price stability – a trademark of Switzerland. Switzerland has one of the highest Low inflation rates and capital costs, According to the «Prices and earnings» levels of purchasing power in the world. a good investment climate and solid study (2011) conducted by UBS, Zurich The country sets great store on purchasing power make the Swiss and Geneva have the highest salary levels continuity, and its moderate price economy one of the most liberal and in the world. Top salaries are paid in inflation creates stable and reliable competitive in the world. This can be seen Switzerland; in terms of gross salaries, value. in the country’s gross domestic product, Zurich and Geneva lead the list, followed which is considerably above the EU by cities such as Copenhagen, Oslo and Preserving purchasing power is one of the average. Sydney. cornerstones of Swiss economic policy. The country is perceived as a beacon of continuity and accountability, which is why Switzerland attaches great importance to the stability of its currency. Purchasing power. Swiss Federal Statistical Office www.bfs.admin.ch « The Swiss appreciate first-class quality – which is why the Starbucks coffee experience is particu- larly successful here. « FRANK WUBBEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR STARBUCKS COFFEE SWITZERLAND LTD Switzerland 7 Security and confidence Diversity in practice. Cosmopolitan, tolerant, internationally engaged. Switzerland practices values such as Various international organizations such as ICRC humanity, diplomacy and tolerance. the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Committee of the Red Cross, Factors like these are of considerable the United Nations are headquartered in Geneva importance to multinational companies Switzerland. Geneva is one of the world’s www.icrc.org when deciding on locations. most important centers for international cooperation and is home to the World IOC As a business location Switzerland is Trade Organization (WTO), which is International Olympic Committee, highly cosmopolitan, and foreign employ- responsible for the legal and institutional Lausanne ees and companies appreciate the Swiss framework of the multilateral trading www.olympic.org culture of tolerance. Switzerland’s policy system and is the only organization to of neutrality promotes diplomacy, human- govern trading relationships between ISO itarian involvement and enhanced inter- states at a global level. International Organization for Standar- national cooperation. dization, Geneva www.iso.org But Switzerland is also a player in world Examples of international organizations politics. It has been a member of the headquartered in Switzerland: UEFA United Nations since 2002 and has been Union of European Football Associations, involved for many years in special UN BIE/UNESCO Nyon programs, agencies and organizations. In International Bureau of Education / United www.uefa.com addition, Switzerland plays an active part Nations Educational, Scientific and in important economic organizations such Cultural Organization, Geneva UNHCR as the European Free Trade Association www.ibe.unesco.org Office of the United Nations High (EFTA). Switzerland also represents the Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva interests of countries with no diplomatic BIS www.unhcr.org relations to certain third countries and Bank for International Settlements, Basel owing to its neutrality it often finds itself as www.biz.org WHO the venue for politically sensitive meetings World Health Organization, Geneva and conferences. CERN www.who.int European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva WTO public.web.cern.ch World Trade Organization, Geneva www.wto.org EFTA European Free Trade Association, Geneva WWF www.efta.int World Wide Fund for Nature, Gland www.wwf.org FIFA International Federation of Association Football, Zurich www.fifa.com 8 Switzerland Intelligent, federalistic taxation. Attractive tax climate. Switzerland has created a flexible tax There is strong competition between the Switzerland is renowned for the construc- system structured on the principle of individual cantons and communes as tive relationships that exist between tax federalism. It forms the basis for fair regards tax, which means that the choice payers and the tax authorities, and this taxation of both private individuals and of location can be significant. spirit of trust is greatly appreciated by companies and the tax burden is some of the well-known companies moderate. Depending on the number of workplaces working in the fields of tax advice and created by an investment project in auditing. Switzerland has an attractive tax system. Switzerland, companies may be fully or Since 2003 a debt brake has been in partially exempted from taxes. In order to place whereby the federal government prevent double taxation in Switzerland and is committed to maintaining a balanced abroad, Switzerland has entered into budget over the course of the economic agreements with all key industrial nations cycle. Compared with many other and many other countries as well. industrial countries the total tax burden is therefore moderate. The Swiss tax system reflects the country’s federalistic structure, with taxes levied at three levels: by the federal government, the cantons and the com- munes. At federal level,