SWITZERLAND

Lausanne

Av. Du Rond Point 3
CH 1006 Lausanne
Switzerland

Email:
lausanne@ibng.com

Contact person: Richard Francis

 

General Information

Country (name in full):	Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)
Capital:	Berne
Surface Area:	41,000 sq km
Official Languages:	German, French, Italian
Population:	7,523,934 (July 2006 est.)
Exchange Rates:	Real Time Converter
Real GDP Growth:	1.9% (2005 est.)
GDP per capita:	purchasing power parity - $32,200 (2005 est.)
Head of State:	President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 8 January 2006)
Head of Government:	President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 8 January 2006)

 

Principal Trading Partners

Export Destinations
Germany 19.4%, US 10.9%, Italy 9.1%, France 8.7%, UK 5.4%, Spain 4.1% (2005)

Import Destinations
Germany 31.6%, Italy 10.5%, France 10%, US 5.6%, Netherlands 4.8%, Austria 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2005)

 

Swiss Overview

Geography & Population
Switzerland is a mountainous country (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes . The country has a population of 7.5 million.

Language
Switzerland has 3 official languages which are German, French and Italian. A large proportion of the population also speak English, mainly in the business sector.

Government and Law
Switzerland is a federal republic comprising of 26 cantons (administrative divisions) and is politically stable. The system of government is complex, being a direct democracy in which the citizens of Switzerland are expected to take a quite active roll, voting approximately 6-10 times per year. Citizen-initiated referendums can overturn new federal laws and international treaties.

Climate
Switzerland’s climate is moderate. In summer (from July to August) the daytime temperature range is 18-25°C, in winter (from January to February) the range is minus 1-5°C. In spring and autumn, the daytime temperature range is 8-15°C. Be prepared for a range of temperatures depending on the altitude.

Religion
Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)

Swiss Calendar

Business travellers to Switzerland should note that Switzerland enjoys a wide range of public holidays due to religious, national and other festive events. 

IBN clients are recommended to consult with their regional Business Centres to obtain more specific regional travel advice in relation to public holidays as they may impact upon visit schedules.

Exhibitions and Conferences

IBN clients should consult their regional Business Centre for detailed information on exhibitions and conferences including exhibiting, booking requirements etc.

For a useful link on exhibition details, please visit the Fair Guide - www.fairguide.com.

To contact us, click here.

Travel Information

The major international airports are located in the cities of Zurich and Geneva.

The following information is provided to assist travellers when planning to visit Switzerland:

IDD:                                                      +41
Time:                                                    GMT +1 (+2 Hrs Mar - Sept)
Voltage:                                                 220V
Cell Phone System:                                 Dual Band system (GSM and CDMA)
Dress:                                                    Business suit
Taxi Fare to city from airport (average):     Various
Departure tax:                                        Yes

Foreign Visa Requirements

Most visitors do not need a visa if their stay is for less than three months. If you travel repeatedly to Switzerland but stay less than three months each time, you must apply for a permit if your total stay exceeds six months within a period of 12 months. A valid passport must be shown at the request of the border police.

As visa requirements vary for visitors from country to country travellers should consult their respective Swiss Embassies or Consulates for specific advice. IBN clients are able to obtain specific information including supporting Letters of Invitation for business travel (if required) from their respective Business Centres.

Health Considerations

No vaccinations are required for Switzerland.

In case you need to visit a doctor or be hospitalised you’ll need to show proof of travel health insurance or you’ll be asked for a deposit (cash or traveller’s cheques can be used). An invoice will be posted out. Doctors may ask you to pay the bill in full immediately after the consultation.

Local Currency

The local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF), 100 Rappen/Centimes = 1 Swiss Franc. It is one of the world’s most stable currencies.   The Euro is now being adopted throughout Switzerland in accordance with the currency standardization of the European Union.

Currency exchange facilities are available throughout the country.

To use our Real-Time Converter, click here. 

Useful Links

The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation - http://www.admin.ch
Switzerland Tourism - http://www.switzerlandtourism.com
Switzerland in sight - www.switzerland-in-sight.ch

Disclaimer

Whilst IBN Group Pty Ltd (IBN) has taken due care to obtain and provide the country information detailed on this site, it cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the same information and data. As this country information and data has been received from various sources, accepted by IBN as being reliable, IBN itself makes no representation concerning its completeness, truth or accuracy or its suitability for any particular purposes.