The guests were welcomed by the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Russian Federation Mr. Yves Rossier who spoke about the importance of strengthening economic relations between Russia and Switzerland. He underlined that openness and willingness to share knowledge and expertise was a critical source of prosperity and a safeguard of mutually beneficial partnership.
‘We are keen to actively facilitate the development of business in both directions by helping Russian companies who wish to invest or do business in Switzerland as well as Swiss companies interested in working in Russia. In addition to all economic aspects, a very important factor is personal relations. I am very pleased to see here today a lot of our partners who represent Swiss and Russian business and I would like to thank you for productive and mutually beneficial cooperation,’ said Mr. Rossier.
He added that he intended to visit in 2018 a number of Russian regions and invited the Swiss business community to join in order to establish and strengthen business contacts.
Mr. Rossier then gave the floor to Mr. Lorenz Widmer, the Head of the Swiss Business Hub Russia. Mr. Widmer shared the results of the SBH Russia work in 2017, which happened to be successful due to a resurgence of interest in the Russian market from Swiss and Lichtenstein SMEs. In 2017, for the second time, SBH successfully organized the Swiss Pavilion at Pharmtech & Ingredients, an international trade fair for equipment, raw materials, and technologies for pharmaceutical operations. The SBH Russia has also assisted an increasing number of ambitious Russian companies in the process of establishing their business in Switzerland. Representatives from three Cantons and regions were present at the event in order to meet such Russian companies.
Mr. Widmer also shared SBH Russia’s plans for the future. He announced the Swiss Days in St Petersburg, a series of events scheduled for 12-22 April 2018 and aimed to showcase the diversity of Swiss products and services on the Russian market. A selling exhibition at the Peter Raduga shopping mall is to offer cheese, chocolate, cosmetics, clothes and – needless to say – the famous Swiss watches and knives. On the occasion, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry is also bringing to Russia its new exhibition WATCH.SWISS to present the history of Swiss watchmaking.
The evening was followed by informal conversation and buffet reception, the menu of which was inspired by Swiss gastronomic traditions in the personal interpretation of the Maritozzo’s chef.
Please see the photographs from the annual reception of the Swiss Business Hub Russia here.
As part of the Embassy of Switzerland, the Swiss Business Hub Russia provides information and consultancy support to Swiss and Russian companies. It helps small, medium and large businesses from Switzerland expand their presence on the Russian market, while Russian companies wishing to start operations in Switzerland can get advice about opening and running a business in the country.
