Handbook for Investors. Business location in Switzerland.

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4.2.4 Research Swiss research institutes, universities, the private sector and individuals can fully participate in all of EU’s Framework Research Programs, providing the country with scientific, technological and economic benefits. The areas of research that fall under the 7th Framework Research Program include information and communication technologies, healthcare, energy, nanotechnology and the environment. Now basic research is also supported at the European level. Private industry is able to participate as well, which means Swiss researchers can implement and manage their own projects. Small and medium-sized Swiss companies with experience in international cooperation will have unhampered access to EU know-how, which they can utilize in the market. 4.2.5 Rail, road and air transport The bilateral agreements with the EU have regulated the opening of passenger and freight transport by road and rail. Charges based on the «polluter pays» principle were introduced at the same time. Network access in the EU is increasing the competitiveness of the railways and opening up new market opportunities for Swiss transport companies. Swiss airlines have access to the liberalized European air transport market, subject to mutual concessions, putting them on a more or less equal footing with their European counterparts. Duty-free sales at Swiss airports or on flights to and from Switzerland are still available. 4.2.6 Public procurement Based on the comprehensive plurilateral agreements between the 40 current member states on the public procurement of the World Trade Organization of April 15, 1994 (GPA), an international request for a proposal for the procurement of goods and services and construction projects by certain clients over a certain amount – termed the threshold value – must be made in order to promote transparency and competition within public procurement. With the EU agreement on public procurement, the scope of application of the GPA of the federal government, cantons and sectors has been extended to areas that are not covered by the list of obligations of the EU and Switzerland. Now the agreement extends to the districts and communities and certain sectors (telecommunications, rail transport, energy and private clients in the sectors of water, electricity, local transit, harbors and airports) which operate on the basis of exclusive rights. Public law sectors are already subject to GPA regulations. The 50 % origin clause and the requirement that a foreign bid must be lower by 3 % to be successful in Switzerland have been eliminated. As liberalization progresses, the telecommunications sector and rail freight (by the Swiss) on standard gauge rail are now no longer subject to the regulations. Federal and cantonal requests for proposals are posted on an electronic information system. In light of the considerable expenses incurred by the public sector in the EU and Switzerland, this further opening of the procurement market is creating opportunities for the export industry (e.g. machine construction) and the services sector (e.g. for engineering and architecture firms). The heightened competition among providers at reduced prices is leading to considerable savings for the states submitting the orders. Public procurement in Switzerland www.simap.ch Languages: German, English, French, Italian 4.2.7 Trade in agricultural products The agreement on processed agricultural products governs trade in products from the foodstuffs industry (e.g. chocolate, cookies and pasta). The EU does not impose import or export duties on trade with Switzerland. In response, Switzerland has reduced its import and export duties accordingly. There is free trade in sugar and in products which do not contain any raw materials besides sugar, which are relevant to agricultural policy. The simplification of technical regulations will be beneficial to consumers and will increase opportunities for exporting quality agricultural products. Currently under negotiation is a comprehensive agreement on the agricultural and foodstuffs sector, which should fully open the markets for agricultural products and foodstuffs for both sides. The agreement would lift both tariff barriers to trade (such as duties and quotas) as well as non-tariff barriers (such as various product regulations and import requirements). 4.2.8 Taxation of savings income In order to tax the savings income of EU citizens living in Switzerland, the country operates a system of tax retention on savings income at a rate which is being incrementally increased to 35 %. Three-quarters of the receipts from this tax are paid out to EU countries. This withholding tax guarantees banking secrecy. Related companies with their principal base in Switzerland, as well as subsidiaries in EU member states, no longer pay withholding tax on payments of dividends, interest and license fees. This increases Switzerland’s appeal as a business location. 38 Handbook for Investors 2010
4.3 The euro. Even though the official currency of Switzerland is the Swiss franc, the euro is an accepted form of payment at practically all hotels and in many businesses. Swiss banks and exchanges offer euro accounts, and cash withdrawals in euros are possible at most ATMs. The Swiss financial center is set up to conduct all bank transactions in euros. Due to its location in the heart of the European Monetary Union and the fact that the EU is its largest trading partner, the euro is extremely important for Switzerland. This is particularly the case in the tourism sector and for companies active in the import/export business. Handbook for Investors 2010 39
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 and 14: Despite the close proximity of diff
Page 15 and 16: 1.7.2 Direct investments and Swiss
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: 4.2 Political and economic cooperat
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
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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.
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9.6 Inflation. Switzerland has alwa
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Non-resident companies are subject
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10.2 Tax charge rate in internation
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10.3.3 Expatriates Qualifying expat
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10.4.2 Treaty rates Most treaties p
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10.5.7 Exports In addition to expor
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10.8 Transfer pricing rules. Accord
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outes. The connection between Germa
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Fig. 51: Direct intercontinental ai
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CHF 1.60 per thousand liters in Swi
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Fig. 54: Healthcare infrastructure,
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Fig. 55: Switzerland’s educationa
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PISA study Federal Office for Profe
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Fig. 59: Tuition fees in CHF per ye
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Fig. 61: School fees for internatio
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Institution Location Homepage SLF W
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Fig. 66: Personal safety, 2008 New
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Yellow Pages yellow.local.ch Langua
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Anyone who rents a property is urge
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Fig. 69: Real disposable income in
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14. Promoting Switzerland. Location
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Fig. 72: Examples of cantonal incen
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R&D project grants are available in
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20 TechnoArk, Sierre www.technoark.
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Switzerland. Trade & Investment Pro
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15.2 Table of figures. Fig. 1: Swit
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Countries of Europe. Handbook for I
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Language regions. Handbook for Inve
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