Chamber of Commerce Germany-Switzerland
The Chamber of Commerce Germany-Switzerland ( French Chambre de Commerce Allemagne-Suisse , English German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce ) based in Zurich is an association that was founded in 1912 with the aim of promoting Swiss-German trade.
In accordance with the principles of reciprocity, it aims to promote trade and the economy between Germany on the one hand and Switzerland and Liechtenstein on the other. She advises, mediates and informs about all areas of bilateral economic relations and mediates in the event of difficulties. The chamber does not deal with politics.
organization
The Chamber of Commerce Germany-Switzerland is a registered association under Swiss law and a private, independent and self-governing organization of the economy in Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, free of state subsidies and self-financed.
The Presidium and the Board of Directors of the Chamber are made up of entrepreneurs and managers from Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
network
The Chamber of Commerce is firmly anchored in the corporate landscape of Germany and Switzerland with around 1,600 member companies. The member companies include well-known companies such as Bayer AG , UBS , Deutsche Bank , Credit Suisse , Siemens , Allianz SE , Vontobel , Messer Group , ABB , Würth , Nestlé , Daimler AG , Swiss Life and Roche Pharma .
The Chamber of Commerce is integrated into the networks of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) and the Swiss Chambers of Commerce Abroad (SwissCham) as a recognized part of the export promotion of Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) or Germany Trade & Invest (gtai), however, operate globally and receive state subsidies.
The annual press conference in Zurich as well as the general assembly and the autumn lecture events are well received in the German and Swiss media. The chamber is asked by the media for statements about current affairs in commercial traffic between Germany and Switzerland. The German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and its services are also referred to in specialist publications on the subject of law, arbitration, customs, etc.
history
Foundation and first years
The Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1912 as the "German Chamber of Commerce in Geneva". Towards the end of the First World War, the name was changed to the “German Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland” and an office in Zurich was opened, as the chamber was not only interested in promoting trade between Geneva and Germany. In 1921, the seat of the Chamber was formally moved from Geneva to Zurich. With the establishment of the customs union between Switzerland and Liechtenstein in 1923, the Principality also moved into the sphere of activity of the Chamber of Commerce. The idea of bilateralism , which has shaped the Chamber to this day, was new and central . Nowhere is there - not even in later amendments - in the statutes of this organization, which was founded as the "German" Chamber of Commerce, a nationality clause, as was customary at the time and as it still exists in some organizations today. Rather, it is already recorded in an early protocol that membership is possible regardless of nationality. As early as 1925 it was recorded in an activity report «... so if we wanted to contribute something to a satisfactory solution to the German-Swiss problems, this would always have to be done with due regard for our international position ... We have always advocated solutions, both parts one as possible to allow extensive realization of their economic interests in the other country ». The young Chamber of Commerce was ahead of its time, but not immune to the consequences of the two world wars, which paralyzed economic activity and the exchange of goods between Germany and Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein and even brought it to zero.
After 1945
In 1946 the Allies demanded the closure of the Chamber of Commerce, which consequently ceased its activities without, however, dissolving the association. It was therefore possible to resume chamber activities without any problems even after a two-year mandatory break. This was accompanied by a modernization of the statutes , which now fully took into account the bilateral character of the organization. This is expressed in the new name "Chamber of Commerce Germany-Switzerland".
The development of the Chamber of Commerce in the following decades until today was favored by the economic rise of Germany, Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. The increasing volume of trade led to a growing need for advice, which the Chamber took up.
After 1989
The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and German reunification followed a year later . Here, too, the Chamber of Commerce was called upon. Swiss companies tied the threads of previous partner relationships which ended after the end of the war. In the opposite direction, East German companies tried to gain a foothold in free export markets, including Switzerland, after years of state-regulated foreign trade.
When the nationalized companies of the GDR were privatized by the Treuhandanstalt , Switzerland became the most important foreign investor in terms of the number of investment cases. The Chamber of Commerce played a major role in this, as it ran the office of the honorary trustee for Switzerland.
Tasks and services
The main task of the Chamber of Commerce is to promote, deepen and expand bilateral economic relations. It represents the interests of its member companies on the markets in Switzerland, Germany and Liechtenstein, and is the point of contact for all questions relating to German-Swiss economic relations.
The services include, in particular, support for:
- Market development and export
- Company formation and business representation
- Location search
- Business and cooperation partner mediation
- Information and address research
- Buying and selling companies / succession planning
- Legal and tax issues
- VAT refund and fiscal representation
- Dispute resolution / arbitration
Trade fair representations
The German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce represents large exhibition centers in Switzerland and Liechtenstein such as B. Koelnmesse GmbH, Deutsche Messe AG Hanover, NürnbergMesse GmbH, and Messe Offenbach . Exhibitors, visitors, the media as well as exporters and importers are advised on all questions relating to a trade fair presence.
Information services
The German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce provides members and customers with regular information on Swiss-German and Liechtenstein business transactions. Members and customers receive expert information from specialist publications, leaflets and sample sales, legal and taxation contracts.
The magazine "CH-D Wirtschaft" appears three times a year and contains articles on bilateral issues as well as information about the member companies. The “Yearbook Germany-Switzerland” appears every spring and contains the business report for the past year as well as a vademecum on German-Swiss economic relations with statistics, graphics, addresses, internet links and other information.
Information and changes in business , law , taxes and exports are communicated via the company's own online journal handelskammerjournal.ch . In addition, an electronic newsletter is sent to all members and interested parties every month. The German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce is also active on Twitter , XING and LinkedIn and offers members a virtual platform for networking and information.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ [1] Members of the Germany-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce Website of the Germany-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ [2] Bundesbank demands equal treatment for government bonds Website of the Frankfurter Allgemeine. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ↑ [3] Simplified jump abroad Website of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ [4] A counterpoint: The new arbitration rules of the German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce by Werner Wenger, ASA Journal, website by Kluwer Law. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ↑ Yearbook Germany-Switzerland 2012: 100 Years Chamber of Commerce, Chronicle, page 42 : The early statutes - ahead of their time
- ↑ Yearbook Germany-Switzerland 2012: 100 Years Chamber of Commerce, Chronicle, page 41: Early approaches to a modern and bilateral service organization