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Economics minister calls for more co-operation in WTO

This content was published on Jun 16, 2000 “The outcome, or rather the non-outcome of the Seattle conference has made it clear that an enhanced dialogue on this question has become all the more important,” he said. “It is essential for our economies to continue to join forces in order to fight protectionist pressures and to promote and to practice continued liberalisation of…

World number one cement maker looking to expand

This content was published on Jun 16, 2000 World number one cement maker looking to expand The world’s number one supplier of cement and aggregates, Holderbank, has announced plans to spend some SFr4 billion on the largest expansion in its history. However, the Portuguese government opposes the move. A communiqué from Holderbank headquarters in Glarus said that the new activities would be in…

German nuclear plan fuels debate in Switzerland

This content was published on Jun 15, 2000 Under the agreement, Germany’s 19 power plants are to be closed after a lifespan of 32 years. That means the last nuclear plant will cease operations in 20 years’ time. The German decision is likely to have major repercussions in Switzerland, where a similar debate over nuclear energy has been going on for many years.…

Government plans festival to improve public understanding of science

This content was published on Jun 15, 2000 The festival, entitled “Limits and Opportunities of Science”, won’t get underway until May next year, but the organisers are allowing plenty of lead time to publicise the project. It’s the brainchild of the “Fondation Science et Cité”, which was approached by the government to come up with ways of bringing science into the arena of…

Women’s bank seeks more cash for female entrepreneurs

This content was published on Jun 15, 2000 Founded after the first United Nations World Conference on Women in Mexico in 1975, Women’s World Banking is now one of the leading institutions in financing small businesses run by women in developing countries. More than 40 women-led affiliates all over the world form the core of the organisation. They provide lending, savings and business…

National Bank hikes rates as inflation fears mount

This content was published on Jun 15, 2000 At a news conference in Geneva, the president of the Bank, Hans Meyer, announced that the SNB had raised the target range for the three-month Libor rate by 50 basis points from 2.5-3.5 per cent to 3.0-4.0 per cent. “If the three-month Libor rate were left at the current level, an inflation rate of more…

Alpine nations applaud Swiss success at reintroducing lynx

This content was published on Jun 15, 2000 The delegates of Scalp (Status and Conservation of the Alpine Lynx Population) applauded Switzerland’s success in reintroducing the once-extinct predator. Representatives from seven alpine nations agreed that the growing lynx population in the Bernese Alps meant the predator was likely to spread to neighbouring countries. The decline of the lynx in western Europe occurred in…

SNB raises interest rates

This content was published on Jun 15, 2000 The expected increase should help the Swiss economy stem a risk of inflation as the domestic economy continues to boom. First quarter economic growth in Switzerland came in at a high of four per cent year-on-year, with the unemployment rate falling to 1.9 per cent – an eight year low. This latest move by the…

Competition commission closes retail inquiry

This content was published on Jun 15, 2000 The commission announced that it has found no evidence of cartel activity between the four businesses. The investigation had been looking at whether distribution of branded food products was affected by cartel-style practises. The first indications were that there was an agreement in the area of expenses that producers paid to retailers to secure space…

Moo York, Moo York!

This content was published on Jun 15, 2000 Not real cows, but life-size fibreglass bovines whose hides have been painted and decorated by local artists. As in Zurich – where the idea originated in 1998 – each cow is sponsored and eventually auctioned for a variety of good causes. In New York the beneficiaries will be selected charities for children, the arts and…

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