Market Brief on Switzerland

January 2018

Location Facts and Figures

Switzerland is a landlocked country located in Western and Central Europe. It is bordered on the north by France and Germany, on the east by Austria and Liechtenstein, on the south by Italy, and on the west and south-west by France.

Total Population 8.2 Million

Area 41,277 sq km

Time Zone UTC+01:00

Capital City Zurich

International Telephone Code

+41

Currency Swiss franc (CHF)

Exchange Rate (29/01/18)

1 USD = 1.00326 CHF

GDP (Dec 2016)

US$669 billion

GDP per capita (Dec 2016)

US$81,663

GDP Growth Rate (Dec 2015)

1%

Ease of Doing Business (World Bank 2017)

31/190

Inflation Rate (Dec 2016)

-1.1%

Official Language(s)

German

Other Languages French, Romansh, Italian, English

Business Hours 0800 hrs-1700 hrs Lunch 1300-1400 hrs

Banking Hours 0900-1530 hrs (wkdays) 0830-1200 hrs (Sat)

Literacy Rate 99%

Measures Metric System

Important International Participation

WTO, UN, Schengen Convention

1

City Population

Zurich 366,445

Geneva 177,500

Basel 165,000

Bern 140,228

Lausanne 129,273

Lucerne 77,491

St. Gallen 70,000

Lugano 68,500

Thun 40,000

Fribourg 32,000

Cities & Population

Switzerland Trade with the World

Major import sources of Switzerland (2016) Major export destinations of Switzerland (2016) Na

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Exports 312,282,673 357,905,224 311,145,884 291,959,194 303,067,689

Imports 295,071,061 321,050,462 275,053,993 253,152,460 268,155,840

-

50,000,000

100,000,000

150,000,000

200,000,000

250,000,000

300,000,000

350,000,000

400,000,000

US

$'0

00

20%

13%

8%

8%7%

5%

3%

3%

2%

2%

29%

Germany UK USA Italy

France China Austria Ireland

Turkey Netherlands Other

14%

10%

9%

7%

7%6%5%

5%

3%

3%

31%

Germany USA China India

China France Italy UK

Singapore Austria Other

Source: Trademap

Source: Trademap

Source: Trademap

Major import products of Switzerland (2016) Major export products of Switzerland (2016)

Zimbabwe-Switzerland Trade (US$’000)

31%

6%

4%

3%3%3%1%1%1%

1%

46%

GoldMedicamentsMotor carsArticles of jewelleryHuman & animal bloodChemicals (heterocyclic compounds)Petroleum oilsPowered aircraftTelephone setsAutomatic data-processing machinesOther

27%

13%

9%6%3%

3%

1%

1%

1%

1%

35%

GoldMedicamentsHuman & animal bloodWatchesArticles of jewelleryChemicals (heterocyclic compounds)Medical equipment & appliancesHormones, prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienesDiamondsCoffeeOther

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Exports 3,729 27,438 5,716 3,932 3,406

Imports 9,145 8,788 8,218 11,343 8,376

Trade Balance (5,416) 18,650 (2,502) (7,411) (4,970)

(10,000)

(5,000)

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

US

$'0

00

Source: Trademap

Source: Trademap

Source: Trademap

Zimbabwe’s major exports to Switzerland (2016)

Zimbabwe's exports to Switzerland Value in 2016, (US$’000)

Zimbabwe's exports to Switzerland Annual growth in value between 2012-2016, %, p.a.

Switzerland’s imports from World Value in 2016, (US$’000)

Unmanufactured tobacco 2,103 (16) 125,685

Diamonds 727 - 2,772,027

Citrus fruit, fresh or dried 277 157 187,881

Fresh or chilled peas 257 100 17,396

Antisera and other blood fractions and immunological products

117 26 7,161,761

Men's or boys' suits 116 209 650,493

Granite 82 - 214,622

Essential oils 60 - 138,462 Source: Trademap

Zimbabwe products with export potential to Switzerland Zimbabwe's imports from Switzerland (2016)

• Fresh vegetables (shelled peas, shelled kidney

beans)

• Fresh fruits (grapefruit, avocados, Oranges, guavas,

mangoes and mangosteens

• Fresh or dried macadamia nuts

• Fresh or chilled mushrooms

• Cigarettes of tobacco

• Black fermented tea

• Sculptures – stone and other crafts (basketwork)

61%12%

6%

3%

3%

1%1%

13%

Medicaments

Injection-moulding machines for working rubber or plastics

Mixtures of odoriferous substances

Machines for the reception

Food preparations for infant use

Milk and cream in solid forms

Parts of ball-point pens, felt-tipped and other porous-tippedpens and markers

Other

Food preparations for baby foods

Useful Addresses Preferential Trade Arrangements

Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe 9 Lanark Road Belgravia P. O. Box 3440 Harare Tel: +263 4 703997/8 E-mail: har.vertretung@eda.admin.ch

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zimbabwe 27 Chemin William Barbey 1292 Geneva Geneva Tel: +41 22 7583011/13/26 Fax: +41 22 7583044 E-mail: zimgeneva@zimfa.gov.zw

Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du Jura 23, rue de l'Avenir Case postale 274 2800 Delémont Tel: +41 32 421 45 45 Fax: +41 32 421 45 40 Email: ccjura@cci.ch Website: www.ccij.ch Chambre de commerce, d'industrie et des services de Genève 4, boulevard du Théâtre Case postale 5039 1211 Genève Tel: +41 22 819 91 11 Fax: +41 22 819 91 00 Email: cci@ccig.ch Website: www.ccig.ch

• Zimbabwe nationals must apply for a visa through the Embassy of Switzerland.

• A valid passport (at least 6 months) is required.

• Options to travel to Switzerland by air include: ✓ Harare-Addis Ababa-Doha-Geneva ✓ Harare-Addis Ababa-Rome-Geneva ✓ Harare- Jo’burg -Zurich-Geneva ✓ Harare-Jo’burg-Instanbul-Geneva ✓ Harare-Jo’burg-Abu Dhabhi- Geneva ✓ Harare-Lusaka-Dubai-Geneva ✓ Harare-Lusaka-Nairobi-Amsterdam-Geneva ✓ Harare-Nairobi-Zurich-Geneva ✓ Harare-Nairobi-Paris-Geneva

Travelling to Switzerland

There are no binding Trade Agreements between Zimbabwe and Switzerland.

Zimbabwean products enjoy preferential treatment (reduced or no duty) upon import into Switzerland under the General System of Preferences (GSP).

For more information on trading under GSP refer to ZimTrade’s “Guide to Zimbabwe’s Trade Agreements” (www.tradezimbabwe.com)

For more information, please contact us

www.tradezimbabwe.com

info@zimtrade.co.zw

@ ZimTradeAlterts

+263-4-369330-41

Disclaimer: ZimTrade strives to compile reliable, research-based information that is passed on to our clients in good faith. Whilst every care has been taken in the production of this report, ZimTrade does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information supplied. For more information about ZimTrade and its activities log on to www.zimtrade.co.zw