Top Countries for Business Travel in 2019 – Switzerland

Why do business in Switzerland?

• Switzerland is a landlocked country located in central Europe which shares borders with Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Lichtenstein
• Having left the EU in 2016, Switzerland has brought its economic practices in line with the EU to gain access to the Union’s single market. The EU is Switzerland’s largest trading partner with its prime location in central Europe aiding access to these markets
• Switzerland has a stable and modern market economy, scoring 4th on the Economic Freedom Index (Heritage)
• Top industries include its highly developed services sector with financial services in pole position - Zurich scored 14th on the Global Financial Centres Index - and its manufacturing industry which specialises in high-tech, knowledge-based production (Forbes)
• It also has a leading position in the global pharmaceutical and biotech industries, paving the way for research and innovation (Gov). Switzerland has maintained its leading position as the world's most innovative country in 2019 (Global Innovation Index)
• Switzerland has ‘one of the world’s most competitive economies’ (Forbes), ranking 5th in the world for global competitiveness (The World Economic Forum)
• Switzerland is known globally as a ‘neutral country’ with a democratic political system and transparent legal system. It scored 3rd on the Corruptions Perception Index (Transparency International)
• Switzerland was the 6th most happiest country in the world in 2019 (World Happiness Report)
• Although a small nation with a population of around 8 million, Switzerland has four official languages - German, French, Italian and Romansch - making it a multicultural and diverse market. English is on the rise with many considering it the unofficial 5th language of the nation
• Switzerland has one of the world’s highest GDP per capita and a strong buying power. The Swiss favour local over global companies making it a great market to experiment with start-ups and then expand globally. Examples include Digitec and Ricardo.ch being more popular than Amazon, eBay and Zalando (Entrepreneur Europe)
• Whilst most neighbouring countries are in the Eurozone, Switzerland’s (and Lichtenstein’s) official currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF), which is currently weaker than the £ (GBP) and € (EUR) meaning more spending money for your next business trip (XE)
• Switzerland’s time zone is GMT +2 making communication within European markets and in the UK more accessible
• The weather system in Switzerland is moderate with no extreme heat, cold or humidity. In the summer months (July - August) temperatures range from 18 to 28°C whilst in the winter (January - February) they range from -2 to 7°C
• Switzerland is the perfect bleisure travel stop for those seeking an escape back to nature. Mountains, including the Alps, cover 60% of land area as well as numerous rivers and lakes, including Lake Geneva. 
• With a low unemployment rate, a highly skilled workforce, exceptional infrastructure and a low corporate tax rate, Switzerland is the ideal country for business travel in 2019…

If you would like to have your Business Travel Simplified, then speak with a member of our team on (028) 9038 9007 or email hello@selective-travel.co.uk