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Canton of Geneva
Local companies benefit from the large number of
international decision makers based in the canton,
as well as the presence of two prominent universities.
Geneva’s economy has diversified from its earlier focus
on watchmaking to include thriving activities in a variety
of sectors. “Geneva is also the European leader in commodities
trading for agricultural and oil products and
is home to a burgeoning biotech and medical technology
sector; in fact, it is number one in Europe in life
sciences,” Jean-François Unger points out. He adds
that Geneva-based information and telecommunications
technology companies are making their mark
worldwide.
While many multinationals have established operations
in Geneva, the canton also has many very successful
small and medium-sized enterprises, and the government
has instituted an incubator system to provide
support for SMEs through offering administrative assistance
and other aids.
Building tomorrow’s Geneva
As Geneva continues to grow and attract new residents
and businesses, its Department of Construction and
Information Technology (DCIT) is making sure the city’s
infrastructure meets evolving needs. The DCIT oversees
urban planning and new construction of buildings and
infrastructure, housing developments, protection of
listed buildings and sites, and IT services.
Mark Muller, State Councillor for Construction and
IT for the Canton of Geneva, has headed the DCIT
since 2005. He explains that Geneva has a number of
new infrastructure projects in the works, including
new housing developments, new tramway and rail connections,
and new hospitals and schools. The DCIT is
also working to streamline the process of applying for
permits for construction projects and is ensuring that all
new developments meet Geneva’s high standards.
One current project will be Geneva’s biggest industrial
area when it is completed in around 15 years; the development
will also include around 15,000 apartments and
related facilities and services. Mark Muller explains,
“Geneva has always been a very attractive city for business
and living and it has historically had a housing shortage,
so we are working hard to remedy this.”
Another key project for the DCIT is to streamline
connections between Geneva and neighbouring
France. Mark Muller explains that his office is
working closely with French officials to harmonise
regulations concerning cross border transport infrastructure
and IT links.
New Geneva-Lausanne rail connections
A major initiative now underway is a new railway line
connecting Geneva and Lausanne. The new connection
on the very busy route will be equipped with
the latest technologies and will “add more value to
Geneva,” Mark Muller says.
Passenger traffic on the Geneva-Lausanne rail line is
expected to grow by 120% by 2030, and the current
project aims to double passenger seats on the
major rail line sometime this year and to increase
the frequency of commuter trains in the cantons of
Geneva and Vaud. The new project will also include
new connections between Geneva airport and
Lausanne.
The DCIT is also responsible for e-government
services in Geneva, including services which allow
residents to fill out tax forms online. “We are the
leader in e-administration,” Mark Muller points out.
Geneva will continue to remain one of the world’s
most attractive cities to live and work in, Mark Muller
believes. He says, “Geneva is the most internationally
focused canton in Switzerland. Our population is
45% expats, and we have a very open culture which
welcomes people of all different backgrounds.”
Greater Geneva and Berne Area
To maintain its competitive edge, the canton of Geneva
has joined forces with other cantons in Western Switzerland
to create the Greater Geneva and Berne Area.
“I am president of this development agency, and
we are unified in promoting this area to the international
community. We aim to keep the area competitive
within Switzerland as the country as a whole
continues to grow,” Jean-François Unger says.
The State Councillor notes that one focus for
Geneva’s local government is to continue to develop
the canton’s human resources. He explains, “Since
human capital is the most important resource for
Swiss companies and business development, this is an
important item to focus on if Geneva is to continue
to enjoy the success that it has been having.”
Jean-François Unger urges international investors to
target the canton of Geneva. He says, “In addition
to its many other advantages, the quality of life in
Geneva is excellent and this has helped attract many
leading CEOs to this region. This clustering effect
is a key factor in making Switzerland and Geneva
special.”
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