The coronavirus pandemic failed to halt a decade-long steady growth in entrepreneurs, who last year founded more new companies than ever in Switzerland.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/dos
العربية
ar
سويسرا تسجّل رقما قياسيا جديدا في عدد الشركات الناشئة في عام 2020
A total of 46,842 new firms were added to the Swiss Commercial Register in 2020: an increase of 5.3% compared to the previous record year of 2019, according to an annual analysis by the Institute for Young Enterprises (IFJ).
“Despite Covid-19”, as the IFJ puts it, most Swiss regions saw increases in new firms. Central Switzerland and northwestern regions particularly boomed, as did the Zurich region.
The Italian-speaking part of the country, however, which was hard hit by the pandemic, saw a downturn of 10%; the French-speaking area around Lake Geneva also saw a very slight dip.
Sectors which profited most were craft trades (16.7%), consulting (10.2%), retail trade (8.6%), real estate (8.1%) and the finance and insurance (6.8%) sectors. The leisure, travel, and sporting sectors had less of a good year.
Michele Blasucci, founder of the Startups.ch advisory firm, said in a press release last week that “many people, who have long toyed with the idea of founding their own company, managed to use the crisis as an opportunity and put their plans into action”.
Blasucci also reckoned that the waning of the pandemic will in turn lead to a boom in start-ups in more traditional areas which have been affected by restrictions: for example, hospitality, events, travel, and entertainment.
According to the IFJ, the number of new firms created annually has been growing steadily over the past decade. In 2011, the number was around 40,000.
2020 was by no means a good year for the Swiss economy: the economiesuisse business association estimated last month that the economy as a whole contracted by 3.5%. Unemployment is also expected to rise from 3.1% to 3.5% this year.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
This content was published on
A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
This content was published on
The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
This content was published on
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Which Swiss companies made headlines in 2020?
This content was published on
It’s no surprise that most of the Swiss companies in the news in 2020 had some connection with the biggest story of the year – the pandemic.
Start-up firms feel frozen out of coronavirus bailout funds
This content was published on
Start-ups are falling through the cracks of a state-sponsored funding scheme designed to keep companies afloat during the coronavirus crisis.
This content was published on
Entrepreneurs are thriving in Switzerland, with a record number of companies launched in 2019 and unprecedented investment pumped into start-ups.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.