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
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