Handbook for Investors. Business location in Switzerland.

More documents

Recommendations

Info

1.5 Neutrality. In terms of foreign policy, Switzerland acts in accordance with the principle of neutrality. However, this does not in any way mean that it is an outsider on the world stage: Switzerland has been a member of the UN since 2002 and also plays an important role in the UN’s specialized organizations. Furthermore, Switzerland has always played and still plays an active part in important economic organizations, such as the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). 21 % of the population is of foreign nationality. Although in the past migration to Switzerland was primarily the preserve of those who were less socially able, since the introduction of agreements with the EU/EFTA enabling the free movement of persons, the country has increasingly been attracting foreign nationals from higher social classes, particularly highly qualified staff from Germany. Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) For more than 500 years, Swiss politics has been dominated by the words of St Nicholas of Flüe (1417 – 1487): «Don’t get involved in other people’s affairs.» Switzerland has been neutral since 1515, as also acknowledged by the great European powers after the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. No other country in Europe can look back on such a long tradition of neutrality. Since the end of the Cold War, Switzerland has relaxed its definition of neutrality. As the role of NATO changed and it started to perform more peacekeeping missions, Switzerland signed up to the NATO Partnership for Peace in 1996. Thanks to its neutrality, Switzerland often acts as a mediator. In some cases, Swiss diplomats also represent the interests of countries which have no official contact with each other. Switzerland offers its neutral territory as a location for meetings and conferences of particular political delicacy. 1.6 Population. The permanent resident population of Switzerland is around 7.5 million. The proportion of those aged between 20 and 39 is 26.8 %, with 16.4 % aged 65 and over and 21.5 % aged under 20. Life expectancy is one of the highest in the world: 79.4 for men and 84.2 for women. Residential areas remain relatively decentralized and therefore not overly crowded: more than two-thirds of the population lives in the five largest cities (Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Berne, Lausanne) and their greater metropolitan areas. There are four official national languages: German (native language for 64 %), French (20%), Italian (7%) and Romansh (1%). In northern, eastern and central Switzerland, the prevailing language is German, but in everyday conversations different German dialects are used. French is spoken in the west of the country, French and German in some parts of the Mittelland, Italian in the south (Ticino), and Romansh in certain parts of the canton of Grisons. www.statistik.admin.ch Languages: German, English, French, Italian 1.7 Cosmopolitan and international outlook. 1.7.1 Languages and cultural heritage Most Swiss nationals speak at least one foreign language, which they learn in elementary school. English is also increasingly included in the curriculum at an early stage. Due to the country’s openness – including in terms of immigration – the range of languages actually spoken and used for communication is wide. In international business, English is very much in evidence alongside the respective national languages, and is used by many managers. Over a quarter of Switzerland’s resident population was of foreign nationality at birth. The co-existence of various language groups and different religions, and the large proportion of foreign residents result in a high degree of openness and tolerance. This makes it easier for foreign companies to conduct business from Switzerland. Although Europe is Switzerland’s most important business partner, it also has very close relationships with other markets, particularly the US and Asia. The financial centers of Zurich and Geneva in particular are melting pots of diverse cultures. In terms of culture, too, Switzerland has a tradition of tolerance and openness. Its neutrality means it has access to all countries, and it also welcomes reciprocal contact. This diversity has made it easy for global companies and numerous international organizations to settle in Switzerland. 14 Handbook for Investors 2010
1.7.2 Direct investments and Swiss corporations abroad Switzerland’s exposure to global markets is among the strongest of any country’s. In 2007 direct investments abroad totaled CHF 740 billion, or 145 % of GDP. In comparison, Belgium’s direct investments abroad in the same year added up to 135 %, and those of the Netherlands 111 %. At just 57 %, Ireland’s direct investments abroad were much lower. Swiss companies with direct investments abroad employ around 2.4 million staff in their foreign subsidiaries and operating units, and they are also important employers in Switzerland. Fig. 5: Globalization Individual rankings Rank overall Economic integration Personal contacts Technology Political commitment Singapore 1 2 3 15 40 Hong Kong SAR 2 1 1 17 71 Netherlands 3 4 16 6 8 Switzerland 4 11 2 7 28 Ireland 5 6 4 13 5 Denmark 6 5 13 5 7 US 7 71 40 1 51 UK 12 18 21 9 6 Belgium 15 7 7 22 16 Germany 22 45 34 16 19 France 25 31 29 24 3 Japan 28 70 65 12 15 Italy 34 56 38 26 11 Russia 62 49 60 46 52 China 66 43 67 56 65 Brazil 67 69 71 39 42 India 71 66 59 63 69 Source: Foreign Policy: The Globalization Index 2007 Handbook for Investors 2010 15
Page 1 and 2: Handbook for Investors. Business lo
Page 3 and 4: Welcome. Dear Reader, By choosing t
Page 5 and 6: Table of contents. Advantages offer
Page 7 and 8: 10.3.4 Cross-border commuters .....
Page 9 and 10: 9. Excellent educational institutio
Page 11 and 12: 1.2 Climate. Switzerland’s climat
Page 13: Despite the close proximity of diff
Page 17 and 18: 1.8 Switzerland in figures. Fig. 7:
Page 19 and 20: Fig. 9: Industry structure, percent
Page 21 and 22: 2.2.2 Direct investments In additio
Page 23 and 24: The medical technology industry is
Page 25 and 26: Dachorganisation Informatik- und Te
Page 27 and 28: 3. Economic framework. Free competi
Page 29 and 30: Customs information www.zoll.admin.
Page 31 and 32: Swiss Federal Institute of Intellec
Page 33 and 34: In the main, Swiss product liabilit
Page 35 and 36: 3.5.2 Environment Swiss environment
Page 37 and 38: 4.2 Political and economic cooperat
Page 39 and 40: 4.3 The euro. Even though the offic
Page 41 and 42: The following criteria are crucial
Page 43 and 44: Liability Minimum capital Consultin
Page 45 and 46: Sole proprietorship and general par
Page 47 and 48: 5.4.2 Entry in the commercial regis
Page 49 and 50: Fig. 19: Do I need a visa? I would
Page 51 and 52: 6.1.3 Application procedure 1. Pers
Page 53 and 54: 6.3.3 Special case: students The pr
Page 55 and 56: EU/EFTA nationals EU-17 (original E
Page 57 and 58: Social insurance for foreign nation
Page 59 and 60: 7.1.2 Temporary accommodation and f
Page 61 and 62: Fig. 27: Construction sites: market
Page 63 and 64: Fig. 29: Market prices for owner-oc
Page 65 and 66:
Fig. 30: Permit requirement by grou
Page 67 and 68:
8. Labor market and labor laws. Swi
Page 69 and 70:
Fig. 34: Gross annual earned income
Page 71 and 72:
Fig. 37: Labor market deregulation
Page 73 and 74:
If the weekly maximum working hours
Page 75 and 76:
for a specific period from unemploy
Page 77 and 78:
8.6.1 Old age and survivors’ insu
Page 79 and 80:
Calculation of family allowances by
Page 81 and 82:
9. Financial center and capital mar
Page 83 and 84:
Cantonal banks Deposit Protection o
Page 85 and 86:
a minimum requirement is that purch
Page 87 and 88:
Business angels in Switzerland www.
Page 89 and 90:
9.6 Inflation. Switzerland has alwa
Page 91 and 92:
Non-resident companies are subject
Page 93 and 94:
10.2 Tax charge rate in internation
Page 95 and 96:
10.3.3 Expatriates Qualifying expat
Page 97 and 98:
10.4.2 Treaty rates Most treaties p
Page 99 and 100:
10.5.7 Exports In addition to expor
Page 101 and 102:
10.8 Transfer pricing rules. Accord
Page 103 and 104:
outes. The connection between Germa
Page 105 and 106:
Fig. 51: Direct intercontinental ai
Page 107 and 108:
CHF 1.60 per thousand liters in Swi
Page 109 and 110:
Fig. 54: Healthcare infrastructure,
Page 111 and 112:
Fig. 55: Switzerland’s educationa
Page 113 and 114:
PISA study Federal Office for Profe
Page 115 and 116:
Fig. 59: Tuition fees in CHF per ye
Page 117 and 118:
Fig. 61: School fees for internatio
Page 119 and 120:
Institution Location Homepage SLF W
Page 121 and 122:
Fig. 66: Personal safety, 2008 New
Page 123 and 124:
Yellow Pages yellow.local.ch Langua
Page 125 and 126:
Anyone who rents a property is urge
Page 127 and 128:
Fig. 69: Real disposable income in
Page 129 and 130:
14. Promoting Switzerland. Location
Page 131 and 132:
Fig. 72: Examples of cantonal incen
Page 133 and 134:
R&D project grants are available in
Page 135 and 136:
20 TechnoArk, Sierre www.technoark.
Page 137 and 138:
Switzerland. Trade & Investment Pro
Page 139 and 140:
15.2 Table of figures. Fig. 1: Swit
Page 141 and 142:
Countries of Europe. Handbook for I
Page 143 and 144:
Language regions. Handbook for Inve
show all

Handbook for Investors. Business location in Switzerland.

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?