INVESTORS IN MSK

Huge Opportunities

for Czech Companies in the Swiss Market

After a doctoral degree in economics, Philippe Guex’s career was essentially a European one as he

served in London, Paris, Luxembourg, Brussels European Union, Belgrade and now in Prague. Over

the past thirty years, he has accumulated extensive experience in Switzerland’s bilateral relations

with the European Union and its member states. He has been Switzerland’s ambassador to the

Czech Republic since September 2020.

Will you share with us the key priorities you intend to

pursue as the Swiss ambassador this year?

The priorities of my mission are threefold. The first one

is linked to our European policy. Like in any other EU

member states, it is key to make the Swiss EU policy

understood by the Czech government. Secondly,

Switzerland will finance a series of cohesion programs

in the coming years in favor of the EU member states

that joined in the early 2000s. In the case of the Czech

Republic, over 1.5bn Czech crowns will be earmarked

for projects in the fields of environment, innovation

and health. Thirdly, the Czech Republic is a popular

destination for Swiss companies, as Switzerland is the

sixth largest foreign investor. Together with the CzechSwiss Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy contributes

to the promotion of trade and investments between our

two countries.

Do you see any untapped potential in trade relations

between the two countries?

The Swiss market can be interesting for Czech companies

in several key sectors. It is, for example, the automotive

industry. Over six million motor vehicles drive on Swiss

roads. Another sector is Swiss agriculture. In addition to

the supply of agricultural machinery, Czech exporters

are also offered space for traditional and high-quality

agricultural commodities, like, for instance, hops.

And then come the new technologies: the epidemiological

crisis has highlighted the role of digitalization. Those

technologies that enable remote workflow solutions,

meetings, home office, e-learning, etc. are in high

demand. The Swiss market will have a high absorption

capacity for state-of-the-art innovative technological

solutions.

Switzerland produces not only excellent cheeses and

chocolate but also excellent wines. Have you had

the opportunity to visit a wine cellar in the Czech

Republic?

Switzerland and the Czech Republic produce very good

wines despite the fact that the sun is not as generous as

in the South of France, Italy or Spain. Wine production

is not only a question of sunshine, but also a question of

precision and knowhow. You may not believe me, but

I remember drinking my first glass of white Czech wine

in East Berlin in 1988 as a student at the Freie Universität

in West Berlin. It must have already been delicious for

me to remember it after all this time.

Posílení spolupráce českých a švýcarských společností

HST Obchodní komora Švýcarsko – Česká republika

byla založena 1. 7. 1991. Sdružuje několik desítek firem

působících na českém i švýcarském trhu. Svým členům

zajišťuje platformu pro setkávání, výměnu kontaktů,

informací a zkušeností při odborných seminářích,

konferencích, společenských či sportovních akcích a nabízí

možnost prezentace členů.

Strengthening Cooperation Between Czech and Swiss

Companies

HST Chamber of Commerce Switzerland – Czech Republic

was founded on 1 July 1991. It brings together dozens of

companies operating in the Czech and Swiss market. It

provides members a platform to meet, exchange contacts,

information and experience at professional seminars,

conferences, social or sporting events and offers the

opportunity to present members.

Now to answer your question, I have not yet had the

opportunity to visit a winery in the Czech Republic.

Again, due to the pandemic. But it will be soon, as I plan

to visit some wineries this summer.

Your Excellency, thank you for the interview.

Text:

redakce

Foto:

archiv

Philippa Guexe

POSITIV 1/2022 ǀ 51