OSEC Celebrates 75th Birthday

by Philip Morton, Investors Offshore.com

25 June 2002

Swiss export promoter, Osec Business Network is celebrating its 75th birthday this year, and is in the process of undertaking major changes in order to more effectively assist Swiss SMEs in breaking into international markets, according to Baly Hosly, Osec's Chief Executive.

In an interview with the Swissinfo news service, Mr Hosly explained that:

'We hope that our new organisational structure will help as many SMEs as possible to expand internationally.' He added that: 'In Switzerland, there are 15,000 SMEs that could expand internationally but have not yet found the courage to do so. Our main focus is on reaching out and helping them.'

Following the introduction of a new export promotion law in March of last year, Osec has established seven 'one-stop shops' in cities across the world, designed to assist Swiss SMEs by providing them with contacts, local expertise, and market knowledge.

Announcing the planned creation of 14 other such hubs in cities such as Moscow, Paris, and San Paolo over the coming year, the Osec CEO explained that:

'We cannot successfully run our organisation if we are only nationally positioned. The business hubs provide support networks for SMEs in the most important markets for Swiss companies.'

According to the Swissinfo report, Switzerland is already one of the world's leading export nations, with over SFr 130 billion of goods sold abroad in 2001.

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