Infrastructure and logistics

Punctuality, stability, reliability: three characteristics that define Switzerland’s infrastructure. Trains run on time, the infrastructure for telecommunications is top-notch and energy supplies are abundant. With excellent access to all major European countries, and thanks to a series of bilateral agreements, goods of Swiss origin can cross the border to EU and EFTA countries duty-free (and vice versa).

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Switzerland has one of the best developed and maintained infrastructures in Europe; its dense network of freeways and railroads makes neighboring countries easy to reach. The main arteries all pass through the GREATER GENEVA BERNE area, such as the high-speed TGV to Paris, the ICE to Germany and the Cisalpino Pendolino to Milan. With international airports in Geneva and Berne, plus the additional airports of Basel and Zurich in close proximity, all major destinations are easily reached. More general information is available at the homepage of the Federal Office of Transport, www.bav.admin.ch and the Federal Roads Office, www.astra.admin.ch.

Road: Switzerland’s network of highways connects all parts of the country. In order to use the highways, every domestic and foreign motor vehicle up to 3.5 tons must have a motorway sticker (currently SFr 40) which is valid for an entire calendar year and can be purchased at customs offices, post offices, filling stations and train stations.

Heavy goods vehicles are subject to a mileage-related heavy vehicle toll (MRHVT); the amount is also determined by the vehicle’s weight and its emissions category (Euro 0 – III). To travel in transit from Basel to Chiasso, a 40-ton truck haulier can expect to pay between SFr 265 and 325. Vehicles over 3.5 tons are not allowed to travel in Switzerland at night or on Sundays (exceptions can be granted by the cantonal authorities). Detailed information is available at the federal association of road transport, www.astag.ch.

Information on the highways in Switzerland is available at www.autobahnschweiz.ch and www.autobahnen.ch

Rail: Switzerland benefits from a dense, state-of-the-art network of railroads connecting Western Switzerland with the major Swiss cities, and also with neighboring France, Italy, Germany and Austria. The trains are world famous for their reliability and punctuality (97% are on time) and comfort. Direct international high-speed trains also play an important role:

• TGV for France (www.tgv-europe.ch)
• ICE for Germany (www.bahn.de)
• Swiss Federal Railways (www.sbb.ch)
• European rail travel: (www.eurail.com)

Air: Five international airports are located in or in close proximity to the GREATER GENEVA BERNE area:

Geneva International Airport (Cointrin) offers a large number of flights to all continents. It is particularly well served by low-cost airlines such as easyJet, Baboo and Virgin. From Geneva, travelers have a choice of around 50 destinations, including all major European cities and New York (JFK), Newark and Doha, with regular flights departing at least five days per week. Cointrin is approximately 45 minutes from Lausanne, 1 hour 15 minutes from Neuchâtel or Sion, and two hours from Berne.
Geneva airport: www.gva.ch

Basel’s EuroAirport, the preferred departure point for many frequent travelers, has excellent connections to approximately 30 European destinations, linking Basel with the main air hubs of Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London and Paris. EuroAirport is 1 hour 45 minutes from Neuchâtel and 1 hour 15 from Berne.
www.euroairport.com

Zurich Airport, Switzerland’s most important air hub, can be reached in 90 minutes from Berne and in two hours from Neuchâtel or Fribourg.
www.unique.ch

Berne-Belp airport: Located close to the federal capital, Berne-Belp has daily flights to Munich and Paris - where you can continue to all major destinations in Europe, Asia and the USA - and numerous charter flights in the summer and winter vacation season.
Berne-Belp airport: www.alpar.ch

In addition to these Swiss airports, Milan’s Malpensa Airport, linking northern Italy with the world, can be reached in 90 minutes from Brig in Valais.

Malpensa:
www.sea-aeroportimilano.it

The three major Swiss airports (Geneva, Zurich and Basel) are also connected by commuter flights. Thanks to direct train connections from Zurich Airport or Geneva International Airport, any destination in Switzerland can be reached easily and quickly. In addition to Switzerland’s international airports, the regional airports offer ideal conditions for business flights (general aviation) and/or charter flights. International corporations are increasingly using short-notice business flights with private or pooled business jets to and from regional airports. These facilities are suitable also for smaller jets and are popular with business travelers who appreciate the hassle-free and speedy check-in and arrivals. The modern infrastructure of these airports is adapted for business travel, providing customs clearance or allowing authorized cross-border travel to persons from the Schengen area.

Berne-Belp Airport is also in high demand as a general aviation airport and hosts taxi airlines and charter planes.

Ecuvillens Airport is close to Fribourg.
www.aerodrome-ecuvillens.ch

Lausanne Airport can accommodate all aircraft (single engine, twin engine and very light jet) capable of landing on runways 875 meters long and 23 meters wide.
www.lausanne-airport.ch

Neuchâtel Airport is located by the lake, close to the city. The canton also has a second airport in the north of the region close to La-Chaux-de-Fonds. The airport, Les Eplatures, is the highest Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) international airport in Europe, and is the only permanently operated airport in the French-Swiss Jura mountains. It is a perfect link to hundreds of general aviation airports in Europe for private and business aviation.
www.neuchatel-airport.ch
www.leseplaturesairport.ch

Payerne Airport (canton of Vaud) is an air force base which is also open to civil aviation.
www.aeropole.ch

Sion Airport is used by tourists and business travelers for its seasonal connections to selected European destinations.
www.sionairport.ch

Modern and reliable telecommunications including cell phone networks, ISDN and other broadband connections ensure high-quality coverage. ISDN is available for more than 98% of telephone lines and is offered by 30 different suppliers. Mobile network coverage is high in all regions despite the country’s challenging topography. Swisscom (www.swisscom.ch) is no longer the sole provider of telecommunications services (see also www.orange.ch) and, as a result, there has been significant price competition and a sharp increase in capacity over the last decade.

Extensive information on regulations and the telecommunication market is available from the Federal Office of Communication (www.bakom.ch).

The distribution of energy across the GGBa is outstanding. The reliability and stability of the power network is noteworthy, thanks to its dense and decentralized coverage with various types of power plant. At the same time, natural gas (www.erdgas.ch or www.gaz-naturel.ch), oil (www.erdoel-vereinigung.ch or www.swissoil.ch) and other energy sources are available throughout the GGBa at competitive prices.

Switzerland’s energy needs are covered by a dense, decentralized network of various types of power plant. Its integration into the European network ensures that supply is guaranteed, even during periods of particularly high power consumption.

Two leading utilities and traders - Alpiq (www.alpic.ch) and BKW FMB Energy (www.bkw-fmb.ch) - supply electricity to 2.5 million people in Western and North-Western Switzerland. Alpiq and BKW are active in hydroelectric and nuclear power, high voltage and very high voltage transmission. BKW FMB is also a market leader in sustainable energy production, such as solar and wind power. Further important energy providers for the region are Romande Energie (www.romande-energie.ch) and Groupe E (www.groupe-e.ch).

With the liberalization of the market, large customers like industrial companies and data centers may negotiate their tariffs with any energy provider and do not have to purchase electricity from the service provider in their area.

The federal government and some cantonal and municipal governments have recently rolled out special sustainable energy projects. These programs promote research and development into sustainable energy production (solar, hydroelectric, wind) as well as the installation and use of such energy systems. For example, the installation of solar panels on commercial and industrial buildings is increasingly popular.

Swiss Federal Office of Energy:
www.energie-schweiz.ch

Association of energy providers in Switzerland:
www.energie-energy.ch

As a result of the country’s geographic location and tradition of importing and exporting goods, clearing customs in Switzerland is quick and efficient; the process is also made much smoother thanks to bilateral agreements relating to the free movement of goods between Switzerland, the EU and the EFTA.

Swiss export risk insurance (information on Swiss origin): www.serv-ch.com
www.osec.ch (an investor guide is available)

Free trade agreements mean that imports and exports of industrial products are basically exempt from customs and quota restrictions. But customs clearance is still required, though it is particularly simplified, according to TEI-90 procedures.

In contrast to most countries, a duty system based on weight is applied to products from countries that are not members of the EU or EFTA. For this reason, the rates in Switzerland are generally lower than in other countries. This favors the importation of high-quality goods, which have a low weight but a high value.

Pursuant to sections 9-16, Swiss Ordinance of the Certification of Non-Preferential Origin of Goods, goods are considered of Swiss origin if they are made of domestic materials or are manufactured entirely in Switzerland, or are processed or finished in Switzerland to a sufficient extent. Products are considered processed or finished in Switzerland to a sufficient extent if the foreign materials they contain account for no more than 50% of the ex-factory price. Custom duties: www.ezv.admin.ch

(tax-free areas or bonded warehouses)

As a region with significant exports, the GGBa has a number of efficient, tax-free areas and bonded warehouses. These facilities are logistics service centers where goods can be stored, packaged, rearranged in different sizes, labeled and shipped with no taxes or fees and with customs-exempt entry into and departure from the area. Additionally the tax-free areas usually also provide services such as logistics consulting, import-export, customs agencies, management and storage, consignment, air/ maritime freight, road/rail transportation.

Bonded warehouse locations:

•  Berne: www.kehrlioeler.ch
•  Boncourt: www.actiparc.ch
•  Geneva: www.geneva-freeports.ch
•  Lausanne-Chavornay: www.pesa-chavornay.ch
•  Neuchâtel and Le Locle: www.tremail.ch
•  Martigny: www.port-franc-martigny.ch
•  Vevey: www.sev-port-franc.ch

For logistics support, visit www.logistikplattform.ch