(30.04.2025) The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – of which Switzerland is a member – signed a free trade agreement with Malaysia on April 11. In 2024, the trade in goods between Switzerland and Malaysia amounted to over 1.4 billion francs, according to economiesuisse.
(16.04.2024) Uncertainty continued to weigh on Swiss industrial activity in March. Raiffeisen Bank’s SME Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell by two points to 47.9, after coming close to the expansion threshold in February (49.9).
(09.04.2025) Switzerland boasts the highest density of inventions in the world. Nearly 10,000 patent applications were filed in 2024 – equivalent to 1,140 per million inhabitants. That’s a rate twice as high as Sweden’s (472), which holds second place in the Patent Index 2024.
(03.04.2025) On 3 April the Federal Council took note of the US government's announcements on the imposition of wide-ranging tariffs. These will affect all of the USA’s trading partners including Switzerland. The Federal Council will analyse the measures and their impact on Switzerland in greater detail. It is in contact with the affected industries and the US authorities. The Federal Council has instructed the EAER to begin preparatory work on a possible solution with the USA.
(02.04.2025) Switzerland’s financial technology sector remained flat at the end of 2024, with exactly the same number of fintech companies as the previous year (483). Meanwhile, funding also slowed, according to the IFZ FinTech Study 2025 by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
(26.03.2025) Turnover in the secondary and tertiary sectors declined in the fourth quarter of 2024. Year-on-year, it decreased by -1.4%. Employment, however, rose by +0.5% over the same period, according to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
(19.03.2025) As of April 1, 2025, operators of critical infrastructure will be required to report any cyberattack to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity (OFCS) within 24 hours of detection.
(12.03.2025) Swiss exports of goods reached an all-time high in 2024, totaling 282.9 billion francs (+3.2%). However, the strong performance of the pharmaceutical sector stood in sharp contrast to declines across other industries, according to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).
(05.03.2025) The number of M&A transactions remained stable in 2024, but the amounts committed increased. According to KPMG, more than 450 merger and acquisition deals were completed during the year for a total volume of almost 115 billion dollars (+43 billion / +59.7%).
(26.02.2025) The labour market is tightening in Switzerland. The economic downturn has led to a decline of 10% in job vacancies throughout 2024 and as much as 13% in the fourth quarter, according to the Swiss Job Market Index published by Adecco and the University of Zurich.
(25.02.2025) ) As stipulated by law, the interest rates for COVID-19 credits are reviewed by the Federal Council on 31 March each year and adjusted to market conditions if necessary. At the end of March, the Federal Council could therefore potentially adjust the current interest rates of 1.5% for outstanding credits of up to CHF 500,000, and 2% for those exceeding CHF 500,000.
(19.02.2025) Swiss senior executives are starting the year 2025 with optimism. More than half (56%) of business leaders expect global economic growth over the next twelve months, according to PwC’s Annual Global CEO Survey.
(25.02.2025) The existing direct debit procedures LSV+/BDD will be discontinued as of 30 September 2028. This means that invoice issuers need to take action. They must decide at in good time which format they wish to use for future invoicing and initiate the corresponding coordination with their financial institution and software partner.
(12.02.2025) The Swiss automotive market saw a 5% year-on-year decline in 2024, with sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles dropping by 12.5% and 10.4%, respectively, according to Auto-Suisse, the umbrella association of importers.
(05.02.2025) A study conducted by ETH Zurich (EPFZ) and ZHAW has assessed the resilience of Switzerland’s energy supply system. The findings indicate that even with a 70% reduction in electricity imports, the country could meet its energy needs for a full year without requiring exceptional measures.
(29.01.2025) The private sector continues to intensify its investments in research and development (R&D). In 2023, nearly 18 billion Swiss francs were allocated to companies, reflecting an annual growth rate of 3.5% since 2021, according to a study conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
(22.01.2025) The 2024 fiscal year closed on a mixed note with uncertain prospects. The KOF Economic Barometer from ETH Zurich fell by 3.4 points in December, settling at 99.5. Following an uptick in November (102.9), it once again dipped below the long-term average.
(15.01.2025) Entrepreneurship is thriving in Switzerland. In 2024, a total of 52,978 new companies were registered in the commercial registry – an increase of 1,341 compared to the previous year (+2.6%). The fourth quarter alone saw nearly 14,000 new businesses created, according to the Institut für Jungunternehmen (IFJ).
(08.01.2025) R&D investments declining in Swiss SMEs. The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) has launched a research project to investigate the causes of this decline and propose solutions, as innovation is a strategic priority for the economy.
