Cluster: Archive

Novartis venture fund starts to pay off

This content was published on Jan 31, 2000 The Novartis life sciences group in Basel says its venture fund, which encourages new business projects, has helped create or preserve some 650 jobs since being founded three years ago. The figure includes 420 jobs last year alone. Novartis said that in 1999, the fund had helped 20 companies, bringing to 66 the total number…

Bobst announces takeover offer for British company

This content was published on Jan 31, 2000 The Lausanne-based Bobst group, which develops and manufactures machinery for the packaging industry, says it has reached agreement on a cash offer for Fairfield Enterprises, the parent company of Oscar Friedheim. Bobst said it had been represented by the trading company Oscar Friedheim for most of its products in Britain and Ireland for more than…

Swiss hotels see business improve for third year running

This content was published on Jan 31, 2000 The Swiss hotel trade is continuing its recovery, after several lean years. Overnight stays rose by nearly one per cent last year, but the improvement was down to more Swiss people holidaying in their own country. A total of 32 million overnight stays were recorded last year, according to the federal office for statistics. The…

New Migros chief outlines his vision

This content was published on Jan 30, 2000 The incoming chief of Switzerland’s largest supermarket chain, Migros, has been outlining his vision of the company’s future. Claude Hauser said the way was clear for Migros to resume strong growth, provided it capitalised on its strengths and promoted itself better. Hauser is keen to play up the company’s strengths, reminding people that it was…

UBS head rules out involvement in further mergers

This content was published on Jan 30, 2000 The chief executive of Switzerland’s largest bank, UBS, Marcel Ospel, is convinced that more mergers in the banking world are imminent. But he rejected speculation that UBS might be involved. “I believe there is a further need for consolidation”, Ospel said in an interview with the SonntagsZeitung. But he added that a merger involving UBS…

Union leader welcomes shift in attitudes towards globalisation

This content was published on Jan 30, 2000 A top trade union leader has welcomed what he sees as a shift in attitudes on the globalisation issue at the World Economic Forum summit. But the general secretary of the Geneva-based Union Network International, Philip Jennings, said world leaders needed to recognise that the free market was increasing poverty and suffering. Jennings’ comments came…

Swiss border traffic with France to be hit by strike

This content was published on Jan 30, 2000 Strike action by French lorry drivers is likely to cause havoc on the Swiss border as it did during a similar protest three weeks ago (picture). Geneva and Basel are likely to be hardest hit. The strike, which is expected to last two days, is part of an ongoing dispute between drivers and employers over…

Bad weather dampens “Piccard effect” at balloon festival

This content was published on Jan 30, 2000 Switzerland’s biggest hot-air balloon festival has come to a close for another year, with about 14,000 attending the nine-day event in Chateau-d’Oex. However, bad weather on both the opening and closing weekends meant that figure was far short of breaking the record. But despite high winds that prevented any of the balloons taking off on…

President Clinton calls for globalisation with a human face

This content was published on Jan 29, 2000 President Clinton has delivered a robust defence of globalisation in his address to the World Economic Forum summit in the Swiss resort of Davos. He said he understood the concerns of anti-globalisation activists, but that the opening up of world markets offered the best chance of a peaceful and prosperous future. Echoing the theme at…

Switzerland and US sign trade deal

This content was published on Jan 29, 2000 Switzerland and the United States have set up a joint economic commission to boost trade links between the two countries. The agreement is being described as a new beginning in relations between Washington and Berne, which have suffered over disagreements relating to Swiss banks’ links with the Nazi regime. The deal, agreed on the periphery…

Cluster: Archive

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Novartis venture fund starts to pay off

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Bobst announces takeover offer for British company

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Swiss hotels see business improve for third year running

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New Migros chief outlines his vision

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UBS head rules out involvement in further mergers

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Union leader welcomes shift in attitudes towards globalisation

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Swiss border traffic with France to be hit by strike

More

Bad weather dampens “Piccard effect” at balloon festival

More

President Clinton calls for globalisation with a human face

More

Switzerland and US sign trade deal

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