NEWS
FROM:
LOCATION
Switzerland
633
Third Avenue
New
York, NY 10017-6706
212
599-5700 Ext. 1064
www.locationswitzerland.com
Switzerland Announces Winners of Significant
Investment Projects for 2006
CEMEX, Electronic Arts, Kyphon, Microsoft and
Autodesk to receive
ÒTell AwardsÓ During Swiss EmbassyÕs 6th Alumni Garden Party
WASHINGTON,
September 17 – CEMEX, Electronic Arts, Kyphon and Microsoft on September
20 will receive Tell Awards for SwitzerlandÕs most significant inward
investment projects by North American firms in 2006, reports Mario Brossi of
the Swiss Foreign Investment Agency Location: Switzerland. The awards are named
for the Swiss legendary hero William Tell. This year Autodesk
will receive a special recognition for ongoing expansion and corporate
citizenship.
Ambassador
Urs Ziswiler will present the awards during the EmbassyÕs 6th Annual Alumni
Garden Party. The first Awards were presented in 2004 in a program recognizing
projects in four categories made by U.S., Canadian and Mexican firms, Mr.
Brossi said.
For
2006 the award for the most significant expansion goes to Mexico-based cement
company CEMEX for increasing the size of its R&D facilities in Biel/Bienne.
The
most significant headquarters project award goes to California-based firm
Electronic Arts (EA), the world's leader in interactive entertainment software.
The company established in Geneva its international headquarters for
publishing, to oversee activities in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin
America.
Kyphon
Inc. receives the award for the most significant manufacturing operation for
establishing manufacturing and distribution activities for its international
markets, as well as administrative activities including clinical, regulatory,
marketing and shared financial services in the Canton of Neuchatel.
The
award for the most significant technology investment in 2006 goes to Microsoft for opening its first
Developer Center for Collaboration Technologies in Zurich. The new facility is
developing collaboration technologies and products for the Microsoft Office
system.
Previous
award winners in these categories are Amgen, IBM, Stryker, VeriSign, Celgene,
eBay, Google and P&G.
Autodesk
this year is receiving a special award recognizing its long-term commitment to
growth and corporate citizenship in Switzerland. Starting nearly 20 years ago with a manufacturing
operation, Autodesk now operates its EMEA headquarters, IT center, transaction
center and executive briefing center from Neuchatel. Other activities include software
localization for emerging markets, core research and development for new
software products, and customer support and consulting services. Autodesk is an
important corporate citizen in Switzerland, supporting the primary and
university level education and technology transfer and the Neuchatel film
festival.
ÒSwitzerland
continued to be a major recipient of US direct investments during 2006 and
holds an amazing 4th place of all U.S. FDI worldwide,Ó
Mr. Brossi said. ÒFrom across North America and Mexico, new, expanded and
M&A projects totalled 95 for the year. Worldwide, more than 7000 foreign companies have operations of various
sizes in the country and of these approximately 10 percent are from North
America,Ó he said.
Elsewhere
the Ernst & Young/Oxford Intelligence 2006 Annual Report on foreign direct
investment activity in Europe reported that Switzerland jumped to 8th place on
the "Leader Board" with 136 FDI projects (from all locations)
compared to 93 the prior year (+46%). The report notes, "Switzerland
jumped on the strength of its popularity as a destination for headquarter
operations and to a certain extent, life sciences investments."
-0-
Contact: John Williamson (908) 730-9622 or johnhwilliamson@embarqmail.com