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Switzerland is one of the world’s most attractive locations for innovative and high-performance companies. Low taxes have always been an important location factor. This will now lose importance with the OECD minimum tax. The pressure on Switzerland’s top position is therefore increasing. Which location factors will play a greater role in the future? And how can Switzerland position itself successfully? These and other questions were the focus of discussion at the 80th General Meeting of SwissHoldings.
Numerous factors contribute to a good business location. One of them, taxes, will change to Switzerland’s disadvantage. In order to maintain and further strengthen Switzerland as a successful and competitive location, it is now necessary to set the right course. Although Switzerland is a very good business location, there is room for improvement in some areas.
The new international competition between locations offers opportunities
With the introduction of a global minimum tax of 15%, international tax competition will become less important. Nevertheless, international location competition will not disappear. It will change. Other location factors will gain in importance. SwissHoldings Director Gabriel Rumo emphasizes: “Above all, this change means an opportunity that we should seize.” Because it is clear that this location competition 2.0 will demand a new positioning of Switzerland. In his speech at this year’s General Assembly of the Association, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin addressed how official Switzerland envisages responding to the new circumstances. His presentation was complemented by a talk by Prof. Dr. Reto Föllmi, Dean of the School of Economics and Politics at the University of St. Gallen. He took a step back and explored how location attractiveness is measured from a scientific perspective and what factors are involved.
Panelists discuss ways to strengthen Switzerland as a business location.
What does location attractiveness now depend on?
The discussion on the relevant factors that make a good business location was continued on the podium. For this purpose, in addition to Prof. Dr. Föllmi, State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda, Director of SECO, and the two company representatives Prof. Dr. Andreas Bohrer, General Counsel at Lonza, and David P. Frick, President of SwissHoldings, completed the panel. It became clear during the evening that the levers for improving Switzerland’s attractiveness as a business location are very diverse and range from topics such as legal security and market access to secure energy supplies. It is now a matter of using these levers and proactively addressing the change in international location competition in Switzerland.
Handover of the SwissHoldings Presidency
In addition to the substantive part, a change in the Presidium took place at this year’s Annual General Meeting as scheduled. For the next three years, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG has been elected as Chairman. Accordingly, the Presidency was handed over from the current Chairman David P. Frick to Annette Luther, Head of International Government Relations at F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.
For information:
Julia Besnier | Head of Communications and Public Affairs
julia.besnier@swissholdings.ch | +41 31 356 68 60
