State Secretary praises Swiss location promotion in Brussels
Published: Tuesday, Nov 5th 2024, 18:40
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The Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda, has spoken out to the EU finance and economic ministers in favor of actively promoting Switzerland as a business location and against state industrial policy. This political strategy has led to a solid framework for the economy in Switzerland, she said in Brussels on Tuesday.
This was revealed in the text of her speech, which was made available to the Keystone-SDA news agency. Budliger Artieda represented Switzerland in Brussels at a ministerial meeting of EU and EFTA states on economic issues. The Swiss national heads the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco).
In order to promote productivity, Switzerland is focusing on improving the economic framework conditions. Such a horizontal approach has proven its worth. According to Budliger Artieda, Switzerland's policy does not support any specific technology or industry. Fair conditions for all companies and industries - that remains Switzerland's plan.
Immigration as a means to combat skills shortages
This "ecosystem" must be preserved. "Its success is based on the availability of a skilled workforce, the openness of trade, good quality legislation, healthy competition in the domestic market, financial sustainability and investment in research and development," said Budliger Artieda.
On the subject of the workforce, she explained: "We have to accept that it is becoming increasingly difficult to mobilize domestic workers. The real lever we have is immigration." The State Secretary also emphasized that Switzerland had unilaterally abolished all customs duties on imports of industrial products at the beginning of the year.
The discussion focused on improving competitiveness by addressing the challenges of demographics and productivity. The topic was proposed in cooperation with the EU by the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The joint meeting takes place annually.
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