According to the United Nations (UN), Switzerland is the most innovative country in the world since 2011. This fact is confirmed by the country's first place in the Global innovation index (GII) for 2018.
Since 2011, the UN has recognized Switzerland as the most innovative country in the world and confirmed it again in its latest issue of the Global innovation index (GII). The key factors of innovation and sustainable success of Switzerland are high-class rules in the field of patents and intellectual property, high-tech production, a large amount of investment in research and development. Switzerland is among the world leaders in R & D spending and the quality of education at local universities.
Switzerland is known as one of the world's largest investor, Swiss companies are in constant search of projects for profitable investment. Belarus can become a profitable and reliable partner for Switzerland in the field of investment cooperation.
On April 8, 2019 in Geneva (Switzerland) was organized the Belarusian-Swiss business forum «Doing Business in Belarus: Opportunities for Swiss companies» (hereinafter – the Forum), which was attended by about 50 Swiss manufacturing companies, investment funds and banks.
The objectives of the Forum were: to form the image of Belarus as a reliable partner - a comfortable "launching pad" for the promotion of goods and services of EU producers "to the East", to attract Western investment in the creation of new production facilities in the Republic of Belarus, to improve the transport and logistics infrastructure of the country.
The main organizers of the forum were: the Ministry of economy of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, the Joint Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-CIS, the state institution "National Agency of investment and privatization", the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Swiss Confederation, the Permanent mission of the Republic of Belarus to the UN office and other international organizations in Geneva.
The Minister of foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei and Deputy Minister of economy of the Republic of Belarus Elena Perminova headed the Belarusian delegation, which included acting Director of the state institution "National Agency of investment and privatization" Denis Meleshkin, Director of RUE "National centre for marketing and price study" Valery Sadokho, Director of the state enterprise "Centre for identification systems" Victor Dravitsa, managing director of the investment company UNITER Roman Osipov, representatives of the industrial Park development company “Great Stone” and other Belarusian organizations. Philip Brunner, General Director of Stadler Minsk, made a report "Greenfield for more than 1000 people – Stadler Minsk investment project", which aroused great interest among business representatives in Switzerland. Also a presentation about the successful business in the Republic of Belarus were made by the representatives of the Swiss company "AsstrA" which is a clear example of the implementation of large-scale investment projects with participation of foreign capital.
In addition, a Memorandum of cooperation between the National Agency for investment and privatization and the Joint Chamber of Commerce Swiss-CIS was signed within the framework of the business forum in Geneva. This Memorandum is intended to promote cooperation in the field of investment, innovation and the formation of a favourable investment climate and increase the investment attractiveness of countries.
