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General |
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Official Name
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Swiss Confederation
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Capital
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Bern (population approx. 400,000)
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Area
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41,285 sq km
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Population (2021)
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8.7 million: 25.7% Foreigners
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Cantonal Population (2020)
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Zurich (1.55 million); Bern (1.33 million); Vaud (8,31,327); Geneva (5,06,343)
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Age Profile of Population
(2021)
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Under 20 years: 19.9%
20-39 years : 26.1%
40-64 years : 34.9%
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65 years and more: 19%
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Life Expectancy (2021)
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Languages
(2022)
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Multi-Cultural: 4 National Languages: Swiss German 62.6%; French 22.9%; Italian 8.2%; Romansch 0.5%. English is generally understood in most of big cities, hotels, banks etc.
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Religions
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Roman Catholic 38.2%; Protestant 26.9%; Muslim 4.9%; Jewish 0.3%;No religious conviction 21.4% other 8.3%
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Ethnic Groups
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Mixed European-German 65%; French 18%; Italian 10%; Romansch 1%; Other 6%
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Internet Penetration
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95.6% (2021)
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Mobile Penetration
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83.9% (2021)
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Urbanization
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74% (2021)
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Economy |
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Currency
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Swiss francs (CHF) –Freely Convertible
1 CHF = INR 89 (approx)
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GDP
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CHF 731,662 million (2021)
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GDP Growth Rate
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2.1 % (2022) [SECO figures]
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GDP Per Capita
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CHF 84,055 (2021)
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Unemployment
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5.1 percent of the economically acive population as per ILO definition (2021)
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Exports
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USD 400,709 million (2022) with precious metals
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Main Export Partners
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USA 16.34%; Germany 13.35%; China 11.02; Italy 6.27% ; France 5.22%; India 3.72% in 2022 - with precious metals
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Imports
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USD 355,915 million (2022) with precious metals
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Main Import Partners
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Germany 19.60%; USA 10.64%; Italy 6.94%; France 6.50%; China 6.05%; UK 4.06% in 2022; - with precious metals
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Total Trade
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USD 756,624 million (2022) with precious metals
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Main Partners
(with precious metals)
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Germany ; USA ; Italy ;China ; France, UK
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Political |
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Political Structure
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Federal Republic composed of 26 cantons; Federal Council (Executive Body), which is comprised of 7 federal councillors, constitutes the federal government of Switzerland; Council members rotate in a 1-year term as federal president; Federal Council is elected by joint session of the bicameral Parliament for a 4-year term; Bicameral Federal Assembly consists of the Council of States (46 seats; directly elected according to First past the post system; members serve 4-year terms) and the National Council (200 seats; directly elected; members serve 4-year terms)
The latest elections for the Swiss Parliament took place on 20 October 2019.
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Major Political Parties and Leaders (and their representation in Federal Council)
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Social Democratic Party(SP-2)
Free Democratic Party/The Liberals(FDP-2)
Swiss People's Party(SVP-2)
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Christian Democratic People's Party(CVP-1)
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Head of State (President)
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Federal Councillor Alain Berset (Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs)
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Political Issues
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Immigration, Crime and Foreigners, Radicalization, Relations with EU, Free Trade and Protectionism etc.
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Bilateral |
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India’s Exports
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USD 2839 million (2022)
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Main Items of India’s Exports
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Textiles and garments, organic chemicals, precious stones and jewellery, dyestuffs, machinery and parts, leather products, shoes and shoe uppers, cotton, plastics, coffee, tea and hand-knotted carpets.
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India’s Imports
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USD 14,904 million (2022)
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Main Items of India’s Imports
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Besides bullion, Swiss exports to India consist of machinery and equipment (electrical and mechanical).
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Swiss Investments in India
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From April 2000 to September 2020, Switzerland invested (FDI Equity) approximately USD 4.96 billion in India with major concentrated in the high-tech and engineering sectors, the rest being in pharma, services and processed food, thus becoming the 12th largest investor and accounting for about 0.99% of total FDI in India during this period.
Overall Swiss investment inflows into India as per SNB during 2005-2014, are USD 7.6 billion. More than 350 Swiss companies have a presence in India through their own subsidiaries and joint ventures. Most of the Swiss multinational companies like Nestle, ABB, Novartis, Roche UBS and Credit Suisse etc. have their operations in India. As per Swiss government data, Swiss enterprises have created over one lakh jobs in India and launched many vocational education programs in India. Several Swiss entities opened vocational training centres in India.
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Indian Investments in Switzerland
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Overseas Direct Investment from India to Switzerland for the duration from April 2014-December 2017 was USD 1.72 billion (4.36% of total Overseas Direct Investment) placing it at 7th position. Overseas Direct Investment from India to Switzerland for the duration from April 2017-May 2020 was USD 1.61 billion (3.74% of total Overseas Direct Investment). Indian investments have gone into ICT, Life Services, Engineering, Start-ups, Pharmaceuticals and chemicals, etc. Major Indian IT companies including TCS, Infosys, HCL, Tech Mahindra, etc. provide services to major pharma companies, banks and insurance firms. Swiss luxury goods firm Lux was taken over by Eureka Forbes and earlier in 2015 M/s. Steiner, a construction company, was taken over by HCC Ltd. and European Gold Refineries by Rajesh Exports.
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Indian Community
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The Indian community in Switzerland comprises of approximately 27,300 Indians including over 8750 persons of Indian origin. Most of them are professionals in Engineering, IT, pharmaceuticals and paramedical fields. There are about 750 Indian students studying in Switzerland.
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