Region

Western Switzerland is consolidating its role as a major economic centre and offers a unique range of expertise which is acknowledged worldwide. The region is home to many major international organisations.

Western Switzerland is consolidating its role as a major economic centre (there are over 570 multinational companies in Geneva alone) and offers a unique range of expertise which is acknowledged worldwide. The region is home to many major international organisations, including WTO, ICRC, UEFA, CERN, WHO, and WWF. In addition, the tax and legal system gives a clear long-term advantage to companies that set up their operations in Western Switzerland. Western Switzerland is comprised of 7 cantons: Bern, Fribourg, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Geneva, Valais and Jura.

According to international rankings, Switzerland’s investment per inhabitant in telecom equipment is among the highest in the world. Physical connections – road, rail and air links - are also excellent, in spite of the country’s challenging topography.

The Swiss economy is famous for its excellent performance. Highly-specialised economic players, companies with impeccable credentials, international groups, in addition to a very liberal policy, stable purchasing power (thanks to consistently low inflation) and relatively low-cost finance all help companies prosper.

Switzerland spends US$ 38,035 per student, ranking second in total expenses per student after the United States (2004). The percentage of the population having at least a level of tertiary education is 26 % for the age groups 25-64, ranking 3rd in Europe.

Western Switzerland has a dense network of universities, international schools and technological centres. It offers a vast choice of professional educational courses (more than 200). You will find here an overview of existing courses, training and degrees in the field of ITC and multimedia, as well as courses in management for confirmed or would-be entrepreneurs.

Over 25% of the Swiss population – some 2.8 million people – live in Western Switzerland. They mainly speak French and German, with the cantons of Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel and Vaud being French-speaking and those of Berne, Fribourg and Valais being bilingual, French and German.It is worth noting that, at the work place, 21.7% of the population speaks English on a daily basis.

The very stable political system of Switzerland (4th place after Finland, Austria and Denmark, according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005) and the privileged place that the country occupies on the international scene have made Western Switzerland a region to be envied.Therefore, Western Switzerland is one of the most secure places where to set up business and build a long-term career.