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Cantons of Basel
Basel Ranked Switzerland’s
Fastest Growing Economy
Basel has earned the distinction of being the Swiss region
with the fastest growing economy for the past 15 years.
Christoph Brutschin, State Councillor for Economy for
the Canton of Basel-Stadt, explains, “We have seen
the most market growth of all Swiss regions, which is
especially impressive because Switzerland is already at
such a high level. Typically, we have an average growth
of some 3% to 4% per annum across growth cycles.
Basel’s growth is generally double the Swiss average.”
Basel is performing well even during the current
global financial crisis, although it does not expect to
register growth this year, its growth rate is just marginally
negative, unlike in other Swiss regions and in
other countries.
According to Christoph Brutschin, Basel’s stellar
economic performance is primarily the result of its
thriving life sciences sector. Banking and finance
make up Basel-Stadt’s second biggest sector, followed
by logistics, including its ports and airport activities.
An additional plus for Basel is that “new technologybased
sectors such as nanotechnology emerge due to
the strong industrial base and the deep technological
know-how in the region,” the State Councillor says.
The Canton of Basel-Stadt owns or has major stakes
in the Basler Kantonalbank, the Port of Switzerland,
the local utility, MCH Group (formerly MCH Swiss
Exhibition), universities and hospitals, mostly giving
autonomy to these organisations to ensure maximum
efficiency.
Providing support for local companies
The cantonal government places a high priority on
supporting the local private sector through attractive
framework conditions, mixed office/lab space
for start-ups and support for an effective knowledge
transfer between companies and universities. Government
is committed to being responsive to local enterprises
and is keen to discuss key issues directly with
CEOs and other managers.
Christoph Brutschin, State Councillor for Economy for the Canton of
Basel-Stadt
The canton can also broker building space for companies
looking to enlarge their operations. “Many companies
based here are currently expanding, which shows that
they believe in the future and capabilities of the Canton
of Basel-Stadt. There is a pool of expertise and know-how
present in the canton, which gives high-tech companies
more added value than any financial incentives we could
provide,” Christoph Brutschin says.
Two major private sector investors in Basel are Roche
and Novartis, both of which are currently expanding and
upgrading their headquarters and centres for research
and development in Basel. As Christoph Brutschin
points out, these well-established and other newly
arrived investors are attracted by Basel’s very highly
skilled workforce, international environment, strategic
location and value added attractions for business.
Christoph Brutschin welcomes contacts with business
leaders looking into opportunities in this dynamic Swiss
canton.
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