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Zurich and Geneva Again Score Top Place in Mercer Human Resources
Quality of Life Survey for 2005; Capital City Berne Ranks 8th

NEW YORK, April 20 - For the fourth straight year, Zurich and Geneva scored highest with 106.5 points on the Mercer Human Resources 2005 Quality of Life survey.  Berne, the country's capital, ranked 8th with 105 points.

As a result, Switzerland is the only country in the world with three of its top metropolitan centers ranking in the top ten. Rankings are against New York as a base with 100 points and placing 39th in the 2005 line-up. (www.mercerhr.com)

The analysis was based on an evaluation of 39 quality of life criteria for each city, including political, social, economic, and environmental factors, personal safety and health, education, transport, and other public services.

Mario Brossi of Location: Switzerland, the country's inward investment promotion agency, noted that lifestyle and quality of life are increasingly among the top-ranking soft factors in the site selection process.  "Invariably, Swiss lifestyle is cited among the many reasons why Switzerland continues to attract FDI projects from North America, elsewhere in Europe and worldwide," he said. "Last year, for example, a total of 526 firms made new or expanded investments in Switzerland, creating 2289 new jobs."

Other reasons why Switzerland is an attractive FDI destination are outlined in the new brochure "Switzerland - The International Management Gateway to Europe" obtained by emailing locswitz@locationswitzerland.com or by downloading it from the Agency website at http://www.locationswitzerland.com/Gateway_final_complete.pdf

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Contact:  John Williamson 908 730-9622 or johnhwilliamson@earthlink.net