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 Swiss Inward Investment Agency Announces
Annual "Tell Award" for Significant Investment Projects

 

WASHINGTON, March 29 - Inward investment promotion agency Location: Switzerland today announced an annual award program recognizing significant investment projects made in the country by U.S., Canadian and Mexican firms, reports Mario Brossi, Senior Representative for North America.

 

"The Tell Award, named for Swiss legendary hero William Tell, each year will be presented to foreign investors that made the most significant investments or expansions in Switzerland during the previous year," Mr. Brossi said. "All award winners will become members of the Tell Society."

 

Swiss cantons, regional investment promotion agencies, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) submitted nominations for 2004 to the Nominating Committee, which will announce the final selections at a Gala Awards Luncheon on April 27 from 11:30 - 2:00 at the Swiss Embassy, 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington.  The event is co-hosted by the Swiss Embassy, Location: Switzerland and the American-Swiss Business Council.

 

Criteria for the most significant investment include facility size and function, growth potential in physical size and employment count, and the extent to which the investment diversifies or broadens the types of businesses within a region.

 

Four top prizes will be awarded. They are the most significant new investment project in manufacturing, the most significant new investment in the service industry, the most significant expansion by an existing investor, and the most promising "disruptive technology" or other cutting edge example of innovative design.

 

Nominees for the Tell Award in manufacturing for calendar year 2004 include Baxter Healthcare, Celgene, Sigma - Aldrich, Stryker and Steris.

 

Nominees for the Tell Award in the services category include Biogen/IDEC, CB Richard Ellis, Charter Medical, Colgate-Palmolive, Cryocath Technologies, Honeywell, Hyatt, Lam Research., Leadership 21, LSL Group, McCain Foods, Nitec Pharmaceuticals, PC Security GmbH, Timberland and UPS SCS.

 

Companies nominated for undertaking the most significant expansion during the prior year include Agile Corporation, Allied International, Amgen, Club Airways, eBay, Fossil, LPK and Microsoft.

 

The Tell Award for the most innovative "disruptive" technology will go to one of the following companies: Google, Delta and Pine Land (DPL), Genzyme, Healthtronics Surgical Services, and Viventia Biotech.

 

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Press wishing to attend the award luncheon please contact Caroline Blaser
212 599-5700 ext.1034 or
caroline.blaser@eda.admin.ch

 

Further Information:
John Williamson 908 730-9622