Swiss businessmen sign unique code in Mexico
Swiss entrepreneurs who carry out business in Mexico have agreed to abide by a code of conduct, in a move that is the first of its kind worldwide.
The code has been presented to the Mexican Minister of Public Function, Edoardo Romero Ramos, during the official visit to Mexico by Swiss president Joseph Deiss.
The code commits those companies who sign it to abide by a number of ethical rules, including a ban on bribes and cartel agreements.
The businessmen also commit themselves to respect national laws and not to discriminate against their employees.
Karl Frei, who is president of the Swiss-Mexican Enterprise Association, said that about 70 of the 376 Swiss businesses in Mexico had signed the accord.
According to the head of bilateral relations at the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, Jörg Reding, the code of ethics is the first of its kind.
He said the aim to apply honest professional norms created a “competitive advantage”.
No backhanders
“I believe that it is possible to do business in Mexico without giving backhanders,” commented Frei, who at the same time admitted that corruption could not be wiped out from one day to the next by simple decree.
The initiative of self-regulation is the brainchild of Anthony Turner, who is the director in Latin America of the Swiss elevator and escalator company Schindler.
Other multinationals have also signed the code, including the food giant Nestlé, cement producer Holcim and the logistics firm Panalpina.
On Friday, Deiss opened an exhibition at Mexico’s Ibero-American University devoted to the work of Ticinese architects between 1970 and 2003.
Among those featured are Mario Botta, Livio Vacchini, Luigi Snozzi and Aurelio Galfetti.
Deiss, who began his official visit on Thursday by meeting Mexican president Vicente Fox, is due to wind up his trip on Saturday.
swissinfo with agencies
There are 376 Swiss companies active in Mexico.
About 70 have signed the new code of conduct.
Mexico is Switzerland’s second-largest Latin American trade partner.
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