Internal: Archive

Village food shops face an uncertain future

This content was published on Jul 29, 2000 In a terse letter, the Frimago distribution company in Zurich informed the stores that supplies to them would end in September, because they were not ordering enough merchandise to warrant deliveries. The announcement caused outrage among many Swiss, who see these small family enterprises as an integral part of the landscape. It also made front-page…

Swiss tourism: aiming for top quality standards

This content was published on Jul 29, 2000 The award was created three years ago by the Swiss federal tourism office in a bid to improve the quality of service in Switzerland’s vital tourism sector, a key engine of the Swiss economy. “At first we created a quality charter but found that just signing up outlets to high standards was not enough. So…

The business week in review

This content was published on Jul 29, 2000 But it made the deal conditional on the two companies making a range of divestments. The Commission expressed concern that the merged company would be in a position to monopolise markets for crop protection products. AstraZeneca and Novartis said the necessary divestments represented less than five per cent of the sales of the new division,…

With the help of an old blue bus, Roy Probert discovers that Geneva doesn’t have to cost a fortune

This content was published on Jul 29, 2000 It’s a far cry from the eerie magnificence of the Jet d’Eau fountain or the grandeur of the old town. When the station does eventually spit the bedraggled backpacker out into the city, he’s confronted with money – expensive boutiques, signs for private banks and insurance companies. “This is a wealthy city,” they seem to…

Vitamin cartel: Roche faces penalties

This content was published on Jul 29, 2000 The two countries are investigating the companies in order to establish whether they are monopolising the vitamin market. Last year, Roche and BASF were condemned by the United States and Canada, and ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. Rhone-Poulenc, the affiliate of the German-Swiss group Aventis, were also subject to stiff…

Bergier Commission sweeps 100 Swiss firms for Nazi labour past

This content was published on Jul 28, 2000 The head of the Commission, Jean-François Bergier, said the research into archives of the firms would be completed shortly. He added that the firms have been cooperating, but said he has no knowledge of the findings. Bergier’s announcement comes after the World Jewish Congress (WJC) threatened legal action against Swiss companies that used slave labour,…

Bank Sarasin posts healthy figures

This content was published on Jul 28, 2000 The Basel-based bank said solid growth in interest, services and trading income explained the results. Interest income rose 34 per cent to SFr24.7 million, while earnings from commissions and services increased 47 per cent to SFr164 million. Trading income was up 36 per cent to SFr27 million. “Barring any extraordinary events, we expect the second…

Internet points the way to distance learning

This content was published on Jul 28, 2000 Participants studying through the “virtual campus” use the Internet to communicate and receive materials online. It’s seen as particularly useful for people who are unable to attend university. A key motivation behind the project is to address the gap between the Swiss and some of their neighbours. Switzerland lags behind the France and Britain, as…

SAir given go ahead for French merger

This content was published on Jul 28, 2000 Under the deal, the French airline AOM is to buy Participations Aeronautiques, the parent company of Air Liberté. AOM is jointly controlled by SAir, the parent of Swissair, and Marine Wendel, which also owns Participations Aeronautiques. The Commission said the only change caused by the transaction would be that SAir would now assume joint control…

Machinery industry threatened by lack of personnel

This content was published on Jul 28, 2000 Swissmem, the Federation for the Machinery, Electrical Equipment and Metal industries welcomes the fact that plants are working at 88 per cent capacity but warns that the industry may not be able to take full advantage of the long-awaited recovery. Swissmem says that if capacity reaches 90 per cent and beyond, the situation could become…

Internal: Archive

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

Sign in and personalize Swissinfo

Internal: Archive

More

Village food shops face an uncertain future

More

Swiss tourism: aiming for top quality standards

More

The business week in review

More

With the help of an old blue bus, Roy Probert discovers that Geneva doesn’t have to cost a fortune

More

Vitamin cartel: Roche faces penalties

More

Bergier Commission sweeps 100 Swiss firms for Nazi labour past

More

Bank Sarasin posts healthy figures

More

Internet points the way to distance learning

More

SAir given go ahead for French merger

More

Machinery industry threatened by lack of personnel

Popular Stories

Most Discussed