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Swiss Business Federation


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Welcome

Our Mission
economiesuisse's mission is to create an optimal economic environment for Swiss business. In order to achieve this, it aims to preserve entrepreneurial freedom for all businesses, to continuously improve Switzerland's global competitiveness in manufacturing, services, and research, and to promote sustained growth as a prerequisite for a high level of employment in Switzerland.

Our Organization
Our activities are based on the decisions of the general assembly of our members, the full board of directors and the committee of the board of directors. Permanent commissions, ad hoc working groups and various expert committees ensure the ongoing integration of the expertise of the respective associations and businesses into economiesuisse's position on the issues. economiesuisse has offices in Zurich (head office), Geneva, Berne, Lugano and Brussels, and employs some 55 people. Through our UNICE (Union of European Industry and Employers Associations) membership and our participation in its working groups, our federation has close links with other top European economic associations. economiesuisse is also a member of the BIAC (Business and Industry Advisory Committee of the OECD) and acts as secretary for the Swiss chapter of the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce).

Areas of Activity
As mentioned in our mission statement,
our work is centred around the following
political issues:
– Economic and monetary policies
– Public finance and taxation
– International economic relations
– Education and research
– Energy and environmental policies
– Competition policy
– Legal issues
In addition, economiesuisse handles issues pertaining to the following policy areas: regional and structural policies, transport, post, telecommunications and information society, issues concerning small and medium-sized companies, export promotion and financing, agriculture and security policy.

Our Work
economiesuisse maintains close and regular contact with the Swiss government, the administration and parliament. It is our task to recognize important economic policy issues at an early stage and to lobby intensively at all stages of the legislative process. In practice this means participating in various commissions and working groups of experts, preparing legislation, participating in the legislative approval process, continuously monitoring governmental and parliamentary decisions and activly participating in public referendums. economiesuisse works closely with other organizations with similar interests to achieve all possible synergies.
Examples
– Demands concerning the tax policy and the new federal finance system
– European integration issues
– The «e-commerce» offensive
– Infrastructure liberalization needs
– Effective climate protection
economiesuisse, a partner in business, competently represents the interests of its members on numerous federal committees such as the Federal Commission of Economic Policies, the Federal Commission for the Universities of Applied Sciences, the Competition Commission, the Commission for Export and Investment Risk Guarantees, the Consultative Commission for Foreign Economic Affairs, the Customs Experts' Commission, the Forum for Small and Medium-sized Companies, «Presence Switzerland», the International Development Co-operation Commission, the Federal Statistics Commission, Consumer Affairs Commission, etc.

The Swiss Economy
With a nominal gross domestic product of around 400 billion Swiss francs and a per capita income of SFr 46,000, Switzerland is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. Switzerland has excellent qualifications for continued success in the global economy of the future. Growing international interaction between countries has increased the challenges facing economic decisionmakers at both national and international levels. We are here to help meet those demands: in the future, Switzerland must remain one of the most competitive economies in the world. That is our vision.

Who we are

Pascal Gentinetta, Chairman of the Executive Board

It is the result of a merger between the Swiss Federation of Commerce and Industry (Vorort) and the Society for the Promotion of the Swiss economy (wf). economiesuisse's direct membership includes 100 trade and industry associations, 20 cantonal chambers of commerce and several individual companies.

The following sectors and industries are represented by economiesuisse: advertising, advisory services, banking, cement, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, communication and media, construction, energy, engineering, food products, hotel and tourism, information technology, insurance, machinery, electrical and metalworking industries, packaging, paper and cardboard, plastics, telecommunications, textile and clothing, tobacco, trading, transport and distribution, watchmaking.

economiesuisse works conjointly with the Swiss Employers Association and maintains close contact with the Swiss Association of small and medium-sized enterprises.