Each spring, some 1800 companies from the watch, jewellery and precious-stone industries, together with related sectors, showcase their latest developments and innovations in Basel. The world’s most renowned brands display their collections exclusively at BASELWORLD.
Location: Basel
Link out: http://www.baselworld.com/en-US.aspx
Start date: 8 Mar 2012
End date: 15 Mar 2012
Imports stagnant, exports grow: high franc pressures both
Source: Swiss Statistical Office, 22.11.11
BERN, SWITZERLAND – The Swiss trade balance for 2011 to date has ballooned by 10 percent compared to a year earlier, to CHF2.2 billion, October trade figures show.
The high franc continues to put pressure on prices, and exports continued to show slowed growth of 1.5 percent for the month, with export prices falling 7.3 percent.
Imports were stagnant at CHF14.9m, compared to exports of CHF17b, but prices slipped with imports as well, down 3.2 percent, with prices for goods down 2.6 percent.
The watchmaking, chemicals and machining industries grew, but their export growth hides the bigger picture, with most other industries showing continuing falling exports.
Some 60 watchmakers will display their latest collections at the second Geneva Time Exhibition.
Location: Geneva
Link out: http://www.geneva-time-exhibition.ch
Start date: 16 Jan 2011
End date: 21 Jan 2011
Source: Swiss customs office (click on image to view larger)
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Several economic indicators published by the Swiss federal government Tuesday 21 September show an economy still in the doldrums, but with the outlook slightly more optimistic than in August 2009. Exports are down and imports are down by an even larger percentage, the economy is stabilizing but will remain “sluggish” in 2010 and unemployment is high. The good news: while the picture is still gloomy, it’s getting a little brighter.
GDP growth positive, if only slightly, in 2010
The government’s economic advisory “Expert Group” released its latest quarterly projections, which include a “weaker decline” of GDP (gross domestic product), from -2.7 percent expected in June to -1.7 percent forecast now. The group now expects positive GDP growth in 2010 of 0.4 percent rather than the -0.4 percent projected earlier. Private consumption and building investment are holding relatively steady, which is helping Switzerland to have a recession less dramatic than in many countries, although 2009 will go down as the worst year since 1975 for GDP decline.
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchatel (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss watchmaking centres of La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle was the scene of a celebrations in the street Saturday night after the news was announced that theit is one of 11 new Unesco World Heritage cultural sites. Italy’s Dolomites in the north of the country, near Switzerland, were named one of two new natural sites, and, for only the second time, a site was remove from the list. Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley has lost its title because of a four-lane highway being built through the centre of the site.
The description of La Chaux-de-Fonds, from the Unesco list:
Geneva, Switzerland (Le Temps) – The watchmaking industry in Switzerland continues to increase sales, up 20% in the first quarter of 2007, according to industry reports. Richemont in Geneva is the latest company to provide evidence. The company’s unaudited results for 2006-06 (year ending 31 March) show turnover up 12% over the previous year – 17% at a constant exchange rate – to SFr7.7 billion.
