NEWS
FROM:
Location:
Switzerland+
633 Third
Avenue
New York,
NY 10017-6706
212
599-5700 Ext. 1064
www.swissemb.org/ls
2003 FDI into Switzerland more than doubled to $12.2 Billion Outward Investment of $10.9 Billion a 44% Increase over 2002
NEW YORK, October 5 - FDI flows into Switzerland during 2003
totaled $12.2 billion, more than double the $5.65 billion invested in 2002,
according to Mario Brossi of the Swiss inward investment agency Location:
Switzerland. For inflows, 2003 represented the first increase since 2000, with
itsrecord $19.3 billion, Mr. Brossi said.
"Switzerland traditionally invests more abroad than it
takes in, but this trend was broken in 2003," he said "with $12.2
billion being invested in-country and the aforementioned $10.9 billion being
invested by Swiss companies abroad. The record year for outward investment was
$44.7 billion, also in 2000."
The UN Conference on Trade and Development recently
published the statistics in its World Investment Report 2004. www.unctad.org.
"According to UNCTAD figures, about 60% of all FDI
flows now stem from the services sector," Mr. Brossi said. "With Switzerland
for some time having been a leader in services of all kinds, we should be well
positioned to benefit from this global shift."
Last year 446 new foreign firms settled in Switzerland,
creating 2091 new jobs, Mr. Brossi said. "Of these 42 came from North
America with the balance from other regions of Europe and the Far East. This
growing diversification further contributes to the already international status
of our nation and labor force. It
underpins our position as a leading gateway to today's enlarged Europe,"
he said.
European and EMEA headquarters and shared services
facilities comprise the bulk of investments, Mr. Brossi said, although regional
sales, manufacturing, research and distribution centers also rank high. Among new or expanded North American
projects announced in 2003 are Antelope Technologies, Fossil, Robbins &
Myers, Zimmer Holdings, The Corum Group, Fischer Imaging, eBay, Elan
Microelectronics, Universal Guardian, Tektronix, Nova Chemicals, General Mills,
Invacare International, Nextance, and Biotique Systems.
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Further Information:
John Williamson 908 730-9622 or johnhwilliamson@earthlink.net