Advantages offered by Switzerland
1. Competitive political and economic environment.
- Easy system for establishing a company, practice-based corporate law
- Efficient official procedures and favorable regulatory environment
- Comprehensive protection of intellectual property
- No anti-dumping law
2. Ideal strategic location.
- Three of the four largest European markets and economies are neighboring countries of Switzerland
- Communications and transport centre between northern and southern Europe
3. High degree of international integration, solid relationship between Switzerland and Europe.
- Strong business orientation towards exports; high level of direct investments abroad
- European Union as Switzerland’s most important trading partner, relationships protected by broad-based, democratically legitimized bilateral agreements
- English as language of communication along with four national languages
4. First-class infrastructure, high quality of life.
- Extensive network of road, rail and air connections
- Reliable supply of energy, water and communications services
- First-class healthcare system
- Safe cities, undamaged environment
5. World-leading industry clusters.
- Globally unique concentration of companies specializing in pharmaceuticals and life sciences
- Important financial center
- Market leader in the luxury watch industry
- Globally important location for commodities trading despite scarcity of raw materials
- Leading neutral location for headquarters of European organizations
6. Flexible labor market, high productivity.
- Liberal labor law, employer-friendly regulations
- Low unemployment, high labor force participation rate
- Motivated, loyal and well educated workforce with good foreign language skills and above-average international experience
7. Moderate tax burden.
- Tax rates which are able to compete with the rest of Europe
- Low duties, levies and other charges
- Attractive tax planning options
8. Efficient capital market, favorable conditions.
- Wide range of banking and insurance products
- Favorable interest terms
- High degree of price stability and low inflation over the long term
9. Excellent educational institutions, leading center of innovation.
- Practice-oriented basic education and training, universities and technical colleges that conduct world-renowned research, internationally prestigious private schools and boarding schools
- Integration of research and business practice, participation in international research exchange
- Support for putting innovation into practice
10. Professional support during the location process.
- Competent advisory services
- Support in establishing contacts and finding business properties
- Tax relief and potential sources of financial assistance
Sources:
1) 2009 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook
2) WEF Report for 2009 & 2010
3) Global Summary Innovation Index (GSII)
4) Euromoney 2008
5) Mercer Survey, Quality of Living Global City Rankings 2009
6) Mercer Survey, Quality of Living Global City Rankings 2008
UBS, Prices and Earnings: A Comparison of Purchasing Power Around the Globe, March 2008