Swiiss Watch

International Competitiveness

Product Chosen: Swiss Watch

Introduction: Switzerland officially the Swiss Confederation, is a country of roughly 7.6 million people with an area of 41,285 km². Switzerland consists of 26 states called cantons. Berne is the seat of the federal authorities, while the country's economic centers are its three global cities, Geneva, Basel and especially Zürich.

Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world by per capita gross domestic product. Zürich and Geneva have respectively been ranked as having the first and second highest quality of life in the world.

Country Overview

• Full name: Swiss Confederation

• Population: 7.4 million (UN, 2007)

• Capital: Bern

• Major religion: Christianity

• Life expectancy: 79 years (men), 84 years (women) (UN)

• Monetary unit: Swiss Franc

• Main exports: Machinery and electronics, chemicals, precision instruments, watches

• National languages: German (63.7 per cent), French (20.4 per cent), Italian (6.5 per cent), Romansh (0.5 per cent)

Economical Condition: Currently the following sectors are contributing in Swiss economy

1. Manufacturing

2. Engineering

3. Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals

4. Watches

5. Labor Force

❖ GNI per capita: US $59,880 (World Bank, 2007)

❖ GDP: $367.6 billion (2005) or SFr455.6 billion

GDP per person: $49,012 (2005) or SFr60,746

Government and Politics: Switzerland’s political structures can be traced to the first federal constitution of 1848.But the roots go back even further to 1291 when, according to legend, peasants in central Switzerland pledged to form an everlasting alliance bringing together Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, the first three cantons. Historians see the Swiss defeat in the 1515 Battle of Marignano in northern Italy as the culmination of Swiss territorial aspirations, if not achievements. This period marks the beginning of de facto Swiss neutrality, which was...