Swiss SMEs oriented towards the Asian market relocate their production to Vietnam, Thailand or India, noted Saturday Simone Wyss Fedele, responsible for the promotion of Swiss exports. They are preparing for an escalation in China.
‘We see a trend: ‘China+1’, says export promotion manager Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) in an interview broadcast by Schweiz am Wochenende.
Regionalization in international trade is currently at the center of attention, she adds. “Companies locate development and production in Asia for Asia, Europe for Europe, and America for America. Globalization becomes regional’.
‘Without Europe, nothing is possible’
But, despite the risks, China remains very important, continues Ms. Wyss Fedele. ‘This is our third business partner. In the future, it will probably be the second most important country after the United States of America. In the event of an emergency, each company must know which country it is opting for, she continues.
‘We believe rigid block formation is possible, but unlikely. But if that were to happen, Swiss companies would choose the European bloc – this is the feedback we are getting – and indirectly the United States. Without Europe, nothing is possible”, specifies the person in charge. ‘Europe as a whole is our main trading partner and will remain so for the next 20 years’.
/ATS