Switzerland Business Resources

Economy - overview:
Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small rise to 1.8% in 2004. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.

Agriculture
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Airlines
Airlines in Europe
Airlines Worldwide

Airports
Airports in Europe
Airports Worldwide

Country Budget
revenues: $131.5 billion
expenditures: $140.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Currency (code)
Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency Exchange Rate
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000)

Fiscal Year
calendar year

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
GDP (purchasing power parity): $251.9 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $33,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 34%
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)

Imports / Exports
Exports: $130.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities: machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners: Germany 20.2%, US 10.5%, France 8.7%, Italy 8.3%, UK 5.1%, Spain 4% (2004)

Imports: $121.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners: Germany 32.8%, Italy 11.3%, France 9.9%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5%, Austria 4.3% (2004)

Industries
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Investing
Forex, Foreign Exchange Market: Currency Trading

Labor Force & Unemployment Rate
Labor force: 3.77 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 4.6%, industry 26.3%, services 69.1% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 3.4% (2004 est.)