On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Swiss Confederation and the United Arab Emirates, a high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates visited the Swiss capital, Bern, at the beginning of March last year. The delegation was led by His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, and included several meetings with Swiss officials, including Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs H.E. Helen Budliger Artieda.

In addition to government officials, the UAE delegation included top executives from companies representing high-growth industries such as banking and finance, aviation, trade, investment, healthcare, and advanced technology, including representatives from the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai Chamber, Emirates Airlines, M42, Abu Dhabi-based Global Healthcare Services, Emirates Insurance Company, Ajman Chamber of Commerce, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Hub71, and others.

The delegation also visited leading Swiss private sector companies, including the headquarters of Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, where they discussed partnership prospects, particularly with the newly established Emirates Pharmaceuticals Foundation in the UAE, of which Dr. Al Zeyoudi is the Chairman of the Board. The tours also included Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., a Swiss aircraft manufacturing company collaborating with the Emirati company Strata to enhance advanced manufacturing capabilities in the country and support its knowledge-based economy.

Furthermore, a celebration marking this occasion was organized under the sponsorship of the UAE Embassy in Bern, attended by the high-level Emirati delegation, Swiss officials led by the H.E. Helen Budliger Artieda, Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, and representatives of leading companies and investors from both countries to explore high-potential investment and partnership opportunities.

The meeting was opened by Michel Lane, President of the Swiss Business Council. The meeting included speeches from Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, Helen Budliger Artieda, Swiss Minister of Economy, and Dr. Hissa Abdulla Ahmed Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

During the celebration, achievements in Emirati-Swiss relations were reviewed, and the meeting served as an opportunity to showcase the advantages each country offers to investors, business owners, and projects.

In his address during the forum, Dr. Al Zeyoudi, emphasized Switzerland's role as an important trading and investment partner for the UAE. He highlighted Switzerland as the leading European destination for non-oil Emirati exports, ranking fourth globally with a value of $9.5 billion in 2023. He noted that the trade volume between the two countries exceeded $22.3 billion in 2023, representing a 41.2% increase from 2022 and confirming the synergy between their economies. He affirmed that Switzerland shares the UAE's vision for sustainable long-term economic growth built on knowledge and innovation, providing a platform for deeper cooperation. By combining the public and private sectors, he emphasized that the Emirati-Swiss Economic Forum is one of the best ways to identify and explore these opportunities, build connections, and networks that will support another 50 years of positive relations between the UAE and Switzerland.

He also pointed out areas of Emirati-Swiss cooperation in various fields such as alternative fuels, trade finance, biotechnology, and medical technology research, aiming for greater economic integration. He promoted the benefits of the dynamic business landscape in the UAE to attract Swiss companies seeking to expand into Asian and African markets, including its strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and logistical capabilities. The Swiss cybersecurity company ZENDATA is a recent addition to the NextGen program for foreign direct investment, which helps innovative companies from around the world establish or expand their operations in the UAE[1].

In his intervention, the Minister of Trade emphasized that the trade sector in the UAE has grown by 3% over the past three years, highlighting the UAE's reliance on three pillars: technology, human capital, and market access. Regarding technology, the aim is to serve human being, focusing on sectors such as healthcare, education, and aviation. Concerning human capital, the UAE works on attracting talents through its immigration system, attracting many entrepreneurs and investors. Regarding market access, the UAE strives for diversity and has signed 14 free trade agreements in the past decade. It is also part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and it recognizes the importance of investing in emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Additionally, there is a focus on the service sector as a game changer, with the UAE being a global hub for re-export, connecting with 400 cities worldwide. The UAE is also considered one of five green hubs for global trade, facilitating trade in rice and diamonds.

Rashed AlBlooshi, the undersecretary of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, highlighted the advantages of investing in the UAE, where the GDP reaches around $500 billion. The UAE has a future vision for a knowledge-based economy, with flourishing sectors including industry, pharmaceuticals, and finance, along with developments in aerospace, medical technology, and the environment.

Tariq Al Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary of Advanced Technology at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, emphasized the competitiveness of the UAE's economy, which ranks first in the region. The industrial sector has witnessed significant growth, with industrial exports reaching around $47 billion, including petroleum refining, chemicals, and steel industries. Incentives for investors include competitive energy prices, availability of clean energy, central geographic location, land availability, robust infrastructure for communications and transportation, low tax rates, human capital, financial incentives, and a stable political environment.

During her address at the forum, Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Helen Budliger Artieda, affirmed the available opportunities in Switzerland for the business community, emphasizing that Switzerland enjoys one of the most prosperous economies. Stability is one of the distinguishing factors of Switzerland, along with a good regulatory environment. She added that transparency, neutrality, and predictable environment are crucial factors that strengthen the Swiss economy. She also pointed out important economic sectors in Switzerland, such as intellectual property rights, innovation, and technology. The significance of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was highlighted as it provides international dimension to the Swiss economy. She highlighted that one of the main characteristics of governance in Switzerland is the partnership between the public and private sectors, with the government adopting policies that involve citizens in decision-making processes. Switzerland benefits from a multicultural and multilingual environment, with one of the strongest universities and scientific institutes. She added that the Swiss government invests in basic research and supports startups through incubators and accelerators. Switzerland also boasts one of the best dual education and training systems globally, with statistics showing that one in three students pursues higher education, with the majority opting for vocational training. Switzerland spends around 5.6% of its GDP on education.

On the other hand, the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was emphasized, as Swiss companies operate internationally due to the small domestic market. Major global companies have branches in Switzerland due to its competitive environment. Switzerland also assists Swiss companies in expanding into foreign markets through its institution “Switzerland Global Enterprise”. The Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs highlighted the strong partnership between Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, considering the UAE as a key partner for Switzerland in the region.

At the end of the forum, a joint panel was held with experts from both sides and participation from Swiss and Emirati companies. They emphasize the need of utilizing available expertise from both sides regarding best practices to facilitate the entry of companies into new markets. The economic model of Hong Kong has been cited as one of the successful models. Future prospects for cooperation, especially in the development of artificial intelligence and research and development, were also addressed.

In conclusion, the importance of cross-border partnership was affirmed, reflected in the strong and long-standing bilateral relations between Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, benefiting both countries.

[1] The NEXTGEN FDI program is a national initiative launched by the Ministry of Economy. The initiative aims to attract digital companies from around the world and provide them with the necessary fundamentals to enter the market and expand within the United Arab Emirates.

Two separate meetings have been held in May 2022 in order to strengthening Arab-Swiss economic relations. The first meeting took place in Rabat on May 9, when the Moroccan Minister for Investment, Convergence and Public Policy Evaluation, Mohcine Jazouli, met with the Swiss Minister of State Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch in the presence of, Guillaume Schurer, Ambassador of Switzerland to Morocco. Where the two parties discussed the possibility of introducing new investments in many sectors, and pledged to hold similar meetings in the future. Jazouli commented on the already strong relations between the two countries, noting that the meeting was "an opportunity to present the various investment opportunities offered by Morocco to the Swiss officials." On the other hand, Ms. Ineichen-Fleisch described the relations between the two countries as "excellent".

Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services in cooperation with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Morocco had previously held a meeting in late April under the slogan "Focus on Morocco".

Commenting on the recent talks that brought the two sides together, Ambassador Guillaume Schurer referred to the Swiss-Moroccan agreement signed in December 2021, considering that the agreement allowed for "increasing cooperation in all areas."

On the other hand, a meeting was held in Manama on May 12, as part of an official visit by the Swiss economic mission to the Kingdom of Bahrain, where the mission met with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Iman Al-Dosari, in the presence of the Swiss Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Massimo Badji and the Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic and Foreign Trade, Shaikh Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa, and a number of senior officials in the ministry. The meeting dealt with bilateral economic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them.

The Arab-Swiss relations occupies a distinguished position on the economic level. Switzerland is one of the most important commercial partners for the Arab countries, as it accounts for about 10% of the total Arab trade exchanges with the Europe.

Recent years have witnessed a development in Arab-Swiss economic relations, especially with the Arab Gulf states, in the same time relations between Morocco and Switzerland have improved significantly in the past few years.

العلاقات الاقتصادية السويسرية-المصرية بعد مرور 110 عاماً

شهد يوم 25 آذار/مارس الفائت حفلاً اقامته السفارة السويسرية في مصر بمناسبة مرور 110 عاماً على العلاقات المصرية- السويسرية بحضور وزيرة الاستثمار والتعاون الدولي المصرية سحر نصر و إيجنازيوكاسيس، وزير خارجية سويسرا، وسفير سويسرا في مصر بول جارنييه وتعكس رمزية الاحتفال تاريخية العلاقات بين البلدين التي تعود بدايتها الى عام 1908 حينما وقعت اول اتفاقية ذات طابع تجاري بين البلدين ليتلوها عدة اتفاقيات كان ابرزها في عامي 1930 و1950، كما تأتي هذه الاحتفالية الى جانب الزيارات المكثفة بين المسؤولين المصريين والسويسريين وكذا لقاءات وفود رجال الاعمال من كلا البلدين, تأتي لتعبر عن مدى اهتمام كلا الجانبين في تعزيز أواصل العلاقات الاقتصادية لاسيما بعد أن ثمرت الجهود المبذولة في السنوات القليلة الماضية توقيع عدة اتفاقيات اقتصادية لعل اهمها اتفاقية التجارة الحرة الموقعة في عام 2007 بين مصر و ورابطة دول الإفتا حيث تعتبر سويسرا العضو الاهم في الرابطة.

نقف في هذا المقال على تحليل حجم وطبيعة التبادلات الاقتصادية بين البلدين بعد مرور110 عاماً على العلاقات الاقتصادية المصرية-السويسرية في محاولة لاستشراف اتجاهاتها المستقبلية، بهدف الكشف عن الفرص الاستثمارية والتجارية المتاحة امام رواد الاعمال العرب-السويسريين وذلك من خلال استعراض التبادلات التجارية والاستثمارية بين البلدين.

التبادلات التجارية السويسرية-المصرية نمو وتنوع في الهيكل السلعي

عَرفت التبادلات التجارية المصرية-السويسرية تطوراً لافتاً خلال الأعوام السابقة، وذلك من ناحيتي تنوع الهيكل السلعي ونمو في حجم التبادلات التجارية. يظهر الشكل رقم (1) مسار تطور التبادلات التجارية منذ العام 2001 والتي ارتفعت من 206 مليون دولار في عام 2007 الى 826 مليون دولار في 2008 بمعدل نمو يفوق ال300%، وتعود النقلة النوعية في حجم التبادل التجاري بين البلدين مع بداية العام 2008 لدخول اتفاقية التجارة الحرة بين البلدين حيز التنفيذ، وقد استمرت التبادلات التجارية بين البلدين بالنمو لتصل الى اكثر من مليار دولار في عام 2017، وذلك بعد عودة الصادرات المصرية الى سويسرا للنمو بعد التراجع الذي أصابها بفعل الظروف السياسية في عامي 2013 و2014، كما شهدا عامي 2016 و2017 تغيرا نوعياً في الهيكل السلعي للصادرات المصرية، فبعد ان كانت صادرات الذهب الخام تستحوذ على اكثر من 85% من اجمالي صادرات مصر الى سويسرا في السنوات السابقة فإنها شهدت تراجعاً لحساب دخول السلع البتروكيماوية الى سلة السلع المصرية المصدرة الى سويسرا حيث احتلت الصادرات البتروكيماوية حوالي الـ 15% من اجمالي الصادرات المصرية الى سويسرا في عام 2017 فيما أصبحت الصادرات من الذهب الخام تستحوذ على حوالي 76%، ولا يعود دخول الصادرات البتروكيماوية المصرية الى طفرة في الاتفاقيات التجارية بل الى التطور الحاصل في الصناعات البتروكيماوية في مصر منذ العام 2015، اما عن الصادرات المصرية الأخرى فتتركز على المنتجات القطنية والسجاد وبعض السلع الغذائية، فيما تتركز الصادرات السويسرية الى مصر على الذهب المطلي بالبلاتين، والأدوية، والآلات والمعدات، وساعات اليد.

مصر فرص استثمارية كبيرة وبوابة سويسرا الى القارة الافريقية

بلغت عدد المشروعات السويسرية في مصر أكثر من 400 بحجم استثماري فاق المليار دولار وذلك في عام 2016 كما شهدت الاستثمارات السويسرية في مصر نموا مطردا بزيادة 400 مليون دولار خلال العامين الماضيين فقط، لتتحول مصر الى ثالث أكثر جهة مستقبلة للاستثمارات السويسرية في القارة الافريقية.

يظهر الشكل رقم (2) توزع الاستثمارات السويسرية في مصر من حيث القطاعات الاقتصادية، حيث يظهر القطاع الصناعي، والذي يبلغ حجم الاستثمار فيه حوالي 462 مليون دولار، مستحوذا على 42% من اجمالي الاستثمارات السويسرية في مصر يليه الاستثمار السياحي، والتي تحتل فيه سويسرا مركز رياديا على مستوى العالم، وقد بلغ الاستثمار فيه 246 مليون دولار بنسبة 23%.

القاريء الكريم: هذا المقال هو جزء من تقرير موسع حول العلاقات الاقتصادية السويسرية-المصرية. اذا كنت ترغب في الحصول على التقرير كاملا الرجاء الانضمام الى قائمة مشتركي نشرتنا الشهرية على الموقع.