Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

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Swiss do not want a sugar tax, finds beverage industry survey

2026-09-30

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2026-09-30

The Swiss want the state to take a more active role in tackling obesity but without resorting to new taxes or bans, according to a survey commissioned by the Soft Drinks Information Group. According to a survey, the public favours individual responsibility but calls for greater protection of children from advertising. These findings emerge from …

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Swiss central bank sells francs to counter haven effect

2026-09-30

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2026-09-30

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) continued to sell francs in the second quarter, following through on its “increased willingness” to intervene against a stronger currency. Switzerland’s central bank purchased foreign exchange worth CHF1.4 billion ($1.7 billion) from April through June, according to data on Wednesday. That’s down from the CHF3.9 billion it bought in the …

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The Swiss economy is likely to grow faster than expected

2026-09-30

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2026-09-30

Economists at the KOF Institute at ETH Zurich have significantly raised their growth forecast for the Swiss economy for 2026. They are also more optimistic about the coming year. However, uncertainty remains high. Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to rise by 1.9% this year, excluding international sporting events, as economists announced on Wednesday. Back …

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Switzerland once again ranked as the world’s most innovative country by the UN

2026-09-30

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2026-09-30

Switzerland remains the world’s most innovative country, according to the UN. More broadly, AI is driving growth in venture capital and research investment, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) said on Tuesday in Geneva. According to the UN agency’s Global Innovation Index, Switzerland – which has held the top spot for 16 years – is …

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What does the future hold for the robotics industry in Switzerland?

2026-09-30

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2026-09-30

Robots powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the robotics industry, but they are also raising questions about their impact on people's lives. Where does Switzerland fit into this picture? Industrial giant ABB is selling its robotics division to Japan's SoftBank, sparking concerns that Switzerland could lose ground in a fast-growing global industry. At the …

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Nespresso is phasing out its compostable coffee capsules

2026-09-30

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2026-09-30

Nespresso is discontinuing its range of compostable paper capsules, which was introduced just a few years ago. A spokesperson for the Nestlé subsidiary confirmed press reports when contacted by the AWP news agency. The paper capsules had been launched as a pilot project to offer customers an additional choice. However, feedback highlighted issues relating to …

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Swiss Senate introduces new immigration tax

2026-09-29

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2026-09-29

The Swiss Senate wants to go further than the government on the issue of the safeguard clause relating to immigration. On Tuesday, it approved an incentive tax as an additional protective measure. The Left and a number of centre-right politicians from French-speaking Switzerland were sceptical. The Bilateral Agreements III revise the rules on the free …

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Syngenta’s efforts to settle US herbicide litigation rejected by hundreds of plaintiffs

2026-09-29

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2026-09-29

Hundreds of people who claim they developed Parkinson’s disease after using or being exposed to the weedkiller paraquat have rejected settlement offers from the Swiss agricultural giant Syngenta, a stand-off that could lead to a wave of individual trials. When Syngenta agreed in 2025 to settle claims brought by 8,488 people that its herbicide paraquat …

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Voters in canton Vaud says ‘yes’ to a significant tax cut

2026-09-27

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2026-09-27

On Sunday, voters in the Swiss canton of Vaud approved a 12% reduction in cantonal income and wealth tax. A slight majority of 53.1% voters were in favour. The initiative, launched by business associations, has thus prevailed against opposition from left-wing parties and trade unions. The result also marks a defeat for the cantonal government, …

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Voters in canton Vaud say ‘yes’ to a significant tax cut

2026-09-27

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2026-09-27

On Sunday, voters in the Swiss canton of Vaud approved a 12% reduction in cantonal income and wealth tax. A slight majority of 53.1% voters were in favour. The initiative, launched by business associations, has thus prevailed against opposition from left-wing parties and trade unions. The result also marks a defeat for the cantonal government, …

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Heatwave to cost Swiss economy CHF 400 million

2026-09-24

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2026-09-24

The hot summer of 2026 caused economic damage amounting to CHF400 million in Switzerland. And weather events could also result in high costs next year, according to a study by the credit insurer Allianz Trade. Labour productivity also suffered as a result of the extreme heat this summer – longer breaks were necessary, and there …

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Lawmakers want to strengthen ‘Swiss Made’ rules

2026-09-24

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2026-09-24

The Swiss Senate has approved a motion to ban the use of the Swiss cross on products manufactured abroad. The request follows a change in practice by the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) in March 2026. This allows the Swiss cross to be affixed to products manufactured abroad, provided the words “Swiss Engineering” appear …

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Swiss firm Kühne+Nagel to shed light on Nazi past

2026-09-24

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2026-09-24

Kühne+Nagel, a Swiss logistics firm with German roots, intends to shed full light on its activities during the Second World War, particularly its links with the Nazis. The Schwyz-based company has confirmed statements to this effect made by its chair, Jörg Wolle. "There is no doubt that we need to address this issue. I believe …

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Swiss interest rate remains at 0%

2026-09-24

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2026-09-24

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) decided on Thursday to keep its key interest rate at 0%, where it has been since June 2025. The central bank made its quarterly decision as inflation remains under control in Switzerland. "If necessary, the [SNB] is prepared to intervene in the foreign exchange market to ensure appropriate monetary conditions," …

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Swiss lawmakers reject medicines security initiative

2026-09-24

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2026-09-24

The House of Representatives does not support the popular initiative ‘Yes to the security of medical supplies’. Parliamentarians instead endorsed the government’s direct counter-proposal. The chamber agreed that while the initiative addresses a genuine problem, the Federal Council’s counter-proposal was better because it was more targeted than the popular initiative. The initiative to boost Swiss …

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What the too-big-to-fail Swiss parliament vote means for UBS

2026-09-23

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2026-09-23

The wrangling over UBS bank has led to a decision in the Swiss Senate. Parliamentarians voted in favour of fairly tough capital requirements. What did the Swiss Senate decide today? UBS must be significantly better capitalised than it is at present. UBS is to underpin its foreign subsidiaries with 90% hard capital. This decision came …

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Lindt pulls plug on Dubai chocolate store over Iran war concern

2026-09-23

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2026-09-23

Premium Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli has pulled its project for a flagship store in Dubai over concerns about the regional impact of the war in Iran. Lindt’s plans for the combined museum and retail outlet have been suspended “in light of the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East,” the Kilchberg, Switzerland-based company …

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Miami plastic surgery boom lures Swiss dermatology giant

2026-09-23

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2026-09-23

Galderma, the Swiss dermatology company, recently opened a new headquarters for the Americas in Miami, lured by the city’s mix of high-income spenders and a booming plastic surgery industry that attracts visitors from around the world. The firm, which has a market value of about CHF39 billion ($48 billion), took a full floor at 801 …

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Swiss passport does not guarantee visa-free entry everywhere

2026-09-22

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2026-09-22

The Swiss passport takes 9th place in a global ranking, with 119 visa-free destinations and 54 countries requiring a visa on arrival or other entry formalities for Swiss citizens. A standard visa is required for 25 destinations. There are no downsides for European destinations, according to the Passport Reports ranking published on Tuesday. As such, …

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Zurich poses highest risk of property bubble in the world

2026-09-22

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2026-09-22

Among the world's cities, Zurich poses the highest risk of a property bubble, ahead of Tokyo, says a new analysis by Swiss bank UBS. In Geneva, the risk has increased compared with last year. With an index reading of 1.69 points, up from 1.55 points last year, Zurich tops the list of cities with the … Continue...

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