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A Luncheon Briefing featuring Walter Simmen and Scot Orgish Friday, January 26, 2001 12:00 Noon Switzerland is a small, highly developed market situated at the crossroads of Europe. Its population of 7.2 million is diversified, well-educated, and affluent. Switzerland serves as an excellent test market for businesses hoping to introduce new products into the dynamic European marketplace. Language: Switzerland is one of the most multilingual countries in Europe. The national languages are German (used by 64% of the people), French (19%), Italian (8%), and Rhaeto-Romanic (1%). English is commonly understood in the business environment. Economy: Switzerland has a strong and stable economy, low inflation (2.8%), low unemployment (2.7%), and a highly qualified workforce -- factors which contribute to making the Swiss Confederation a desirable market environment. Per capita income is the highest in Europe. Spending power for foreign goods and services is thus extremely high. Manufacturing: The machinery, metals, electronics, and chemicals sectors are world-renowned for precision and quality. Together they account for over half of Swiss export revenues. Finance: Switzerland is known for liberal trade and investment policies. Fiscal policy is moderate and cautious. The Swiss franc is one of the world's soundest currencies. The country is famous for its high standard of banking, ensuring rapid, reliable processing of business transactions. Agriculture: Switzerland is only 65 percent self-sufficient and imports over $6 billion of agricultural products annually. The U.S. share of the Swiss agricultural import market is currently quite small, but adoption of Uruguay Round measures should improve the situation. About Walter R. Simmen Born in 1946, Walter Simmen grew up in the cantons of Thoune, Langental and Bern, Switzerland. After serving in the Army, Mr. Simmen held various positions in the fields of import and export, project management, and real estate management. He entered the Diplomatic Service in 1970 and was posted in Madrid, Berlin (GDR), New York, Paris, Moscow, and Munich. Mr. Simmen then held an appointment at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in Bern as Information Manager (Head of the section in charge of information technology of Swiss representations abroad). Transferred in 1995 to the Embassy of Switzerland in Wellington, New Zealand, Mr. Simmen served as Chargé d'Affaires for nearly 4 years prior to being named Consul General in Houston in June, 2000. About Scot Orgish Mr. Orgish has been involved in international business for over 16 years and has worked in both the private and public sectors. He graduated in 1981 from Texas Tech University where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Marketing. Upon graduation, he moved directly into international business spending almost four years in Germany, two years in Puerto Rico and one year in Indianapolis, as a manufacturers' representative doing business with the U.S. military. In 1988, he returned to Texas to the University of Texas at Dallas, where he earned a Masters Degree in International Management, as well as an MBA in Finance. Immediately upon graduation in 1990, Mr. Orgish went to work for Martek & Associates, a Dallas based company engaged in international marketing and acquisitions. As Senior Project Manager, he conducted market research, developed short- and-long-term business strategies, screened companies for acquisition purposes, and put together joint-ventures for European and American companies. In addition, he helped U.S. companies export products to Europe, and helped European companies obtain a stronger market presence in the U.S. Mr. Orgish joined the Swiss Consulate General in Houston in 1991 and is responsible for Commercial Affairs. His primary area of responsibility is to help small-to-medium-size Swiss companies find partner companies in the U.S. In addition to his responsibilities as Commercial Officer at the Consulate, he is also the current Chairman of the Foreign Trade Representatives Association (FORTRA) in Houston. Sponsoring Organizations
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