Switzerland Scores 99 Foreign Direct Investment Projects in 2010

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Improving economic trends in 2010 led to an uptick in new and expanded North American foreign direct investment projects in Switzerland to 53 vs. 38 in 2009 reports Mario Brossi, North American Senior Advisor for Switzerland Trade and Investment Promotion.  Additionally there were at least 13 mergers, acquisitions or strategic alliances between North American and Swiss firms, and 33 investments in the alpine nation from elsewhere in the world.

During the year there were 26 investments by Swiss firms in North America, Mr. Brossi said.  Projects ranged from purchasing companies to expanding existing facilities to establishing a presence in the region.

"New FDI projects demonstrate the attractiveness of the country for a company's local presence or its regional or international headquarters facility," Mr. Brossi said. "But expansions are viewed as a confirmation of a company's initial decision to locate in Switzerland.  Among the 16 companies that announced expansions during 2010 are Abbott, Dow, DuPont, HP, IBM, Kraft, Wittenstein and Yahoo!"

Companies from elsewhere in the world are also finding Switzerland an attractive place from which to do business, Mr. Brossi commented.  During 2010 the UK led the pack of 14 nations with 10 projects followed by Germany and France with a handful of projects each.    

Small but centrally located, boasting a business-friendly government, an excellent business infrastructure and a well-educated multilingual workforce, Switzerland's attractiveness as a base for business is augmented by its continued high rankings in key FDI criteria.  The 2010 rankings included:

• 1st in the World Economic Forum's "Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011
• 1st in Europe in the Heritage Foundation's 2011 Index of Economic Freedom
• 1st in the European Innovation Scoreboard issued by the European Union.
• 2nd after Iceland in the 2010 Environmental Performance Index
• 4th globally in The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010

For a PDF file of the 2010 projects email [email protected]

SOURCE Switzerland Trade and Investment Promotion