One dynamic region, six major players

The GREATER GENEVA BERNE area (GGBa) comprises six cantons - or states – in the heart of Europe: Berne, Fribourg, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Geneva and Valais. The region represents almost half of Switzerland’s territory and shares borders with France and Italy. The region’s biggest trading partner, Germany, is close by. Although these six cantons have different strengths, the diversity of the industries present in the region is perfectly complementary.

Regional flexibility

The GGBa enjoys all the advantages of free trade with the European Union hanks to bilateral agreements, but retains fiscal and legal independence for the benefit of companies and individuals. This political, administrative and judicial autonomy from central government also helps authorities react quickly to the needs of new and existing companies. All GGBa cantons share a common philosophy and goal: to develop and maintain a competitive economy based on high value-added products and services.

Strategic access

The GGBa is an excellent base for international companies, not least because its strategic location at the intersection of major transport axes gives easy access
to Europe’s 450 million consumers. The region’s multicultural and multilingual population (at least 23% of the population is foreign), as well as the demand for
quality, also make it an ideal test market.

A feature of the GGBa’s economic development has been the birth of several “clusters”, or networks of expertise, which are catalysts in the fields of micro and
nanotechnology, life sciences, information and communication technology (ICT) and cleantech.

Other features include:

• Political stability
• High productivity
• Moderate corporate taxation
• Efficient infrastructure
• Multicultural and multilingual workforce
• Secure environment
• High quality of life

GGBa: domestic and expatriate population

1. Swiss-born population: 2,846,353
2. Expatriates: 646,887