Tokyo (SCCIJ) – At the November Luncheon, Dr. Simone Wyss Fedele, CEO of Switzerland Global Enterprise, spoke about the similarities between the strengths and opportunities of the two “islands” Switzerland and Japan. More than 50 members and guests of the SCCIJ came to listen to her talk. We present it in the form of a Q&A.
November Luncheon speaker Simone Wyss Fedele, CEO of Switzerland Global Enterprise.
Switzerland Global Enterprise is an interesting name for the official Swiss consulting, promotion and platform organisation for export and investment promotion. What is behind it?
Dr. Simone Wyss Fedele: We are a private association that has been working on behalf of the Swiss Confederation and the cantons since 1927 to ensure Switzerland’s strength in foreign trade. Our headquarters are in Zurich, but we have 200 employees in more than 30 countries. These “Swiss Business Hubs” are part of the Swiss embassies. Our approach is to work with partners. Every year, we support more than 5,000 Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 70 countries. And in 2021, we persuaded 137 innovative companies to set up shop or carry out an innovation project in Switzerland.
What are the latest changes in your policy?
S. Wyss Fedele: In particular, since 2016, S-GE has been promoting the export of Swiss cleantech solutions on behalf of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. In addition, after three pilot years (2017-2019), the marketing of Switzerland Innovation has been integrated into the investment promotion mandate. Our mandates are important pillars of Switzerland’s national economic promotion and foreign economic policy.
Where do you see common ground between Switzerland and Japan?
S. Wyss Fedele: One common strength is the legal framework and the efficiency of the business environment. The other, which is even more important, is innovation. Our companies in Switzerland are very innovative in their niche, and the same goes for Japanese companies. That is why Japan is always a focus market for our business. It is no coincidence that Japan is our second largest trading partner in Asia. The Swiss Business Hub promotes Switzerland’s innovation capabilities in Japan. Together with six innovation parks in Switzerland, the hub is also looking for companies interested in collaborating with Swiss research institutes.
Members and advisors of the SCCIJ executive committee with November Luncheon speaker Simone Wyss Fedele, CEO of Switzerland Global Enterprise.
How interested are Japanese companies in such cooperation?
S. Wyss Fedele: There is a great deal of interest from Japan. For example, the telecommunications market leader NTT participated in the Lighthouse project about machine learning in a smart factory at the Swiss Innovation Park in Biel/Bienne. Almatech SA, a manufacturer of electric boats, has signed a partnership with a Japanese naval consortium. Our “Circular Economy in Switzerland” seminar in July 2021 attracted 580 participants. We focus our investment promotion on ten countries, and Japan is one of them. In 2022, it will be one of the top five countries.
How important is Japan as a destination for Swiss exports and their promotion?
S. Wyss Fedele: Japan is an important but demanding market for Swiss SMEs. About 200 Swiss companies are present in Japan, and more than 90% of them are SMEs. In 2021, we supported 226 Swiss companies on their way to Japan or in Japan. Of the CHF 7.7 billion worth of annual exports, about half are in pharmaceuticals, one sixth in watches, 9% in optical instruments and 5% in machinery and electronics. The pharmaceutical industry is a self-runner because of their global value chain. That is why we often support the machinery and electronics sector with its many SMEs. We are looking also forward to EXPO Osaka-Kansai 2025 as a great stage for Swiss companies.
An impression of the SCCIJ November Luncheon.
Biography of the speaker
After completing her doctorate in international economics, Dr. Simone Wyss Fedele worked for some 20 years in the life sciences, MEM and insurance industries, including Endress+Hauser, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Helvetia. She was Chief Economist at Novartis and, as Head of Public Affairs, a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis Switzerland. She is also a member of the Supervisory Board of the biotech company Infors AG and of the Executive Committee of the Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economic Research at the University of St. Gallen. Since October 2019, she heads Switzerland Global Enterprise.
Text and photos: Martin Fritz for SCCIJ
