Switzerland speaks French and part
speaks German.The passages through
the Alps were always the passages between the Mediterranean and the
North and this was the origin in our
deciding to keep our independence,
to be in a position to decide on our
own what we wanted to do.
I think neutrality still plays a significant role and in a way we need to
build our foreign policy on the concept of neutrality. This allows us to
play specific roles as a venue for international talks. In my view, it is also
linked to the international role of
Geneva and the kind of mandates we
have such as the one for the United
States in Iran. I would say it’s a big
advantage to be a neutral country
and not be considered part of a big
powerful block. It is not a model that
would work for any and every country of course.
Katia: How is the Swiss business community uniquely positioning itself to help Americans who
are interested in doing business in
Switzerland?
Ambassador Dahinden: I think
Switzerland has a series of advantag-
48 iF Magazine | NOVEMBER 2016
es.The first is that we are in the midst
of Europe. We have quite an open
culture and attitude. Of course we
are linked to our neighboring Italian,
German, and French cultures which
is an advantage.
ago found it difficult to find the right
labor force in the United States to
expand business. They were in certain ways pioneers representing the
Swiss model which is a model where
you learn in a classroom but you also
learn practical skills in a company.
A second major advantage is the la- There the companies are very much
bor force you find. This is not only the drivers of the curriculum and the
the academic labor force. In Switzer- drivers of the content of the educaland you find two of the most im- tion. What we saw, and this started a
portant research institutions and the couple of years ago, was an interest
most important ones in continental of the Department of Labor and also
Europe. We also have a strong labor of authorities in different U.S. states
force of skilled professional labor. It to learn more about the Swiss mo del.
is very important to develop busi- This led us to do an outreach. What
ness in a way that if you want to ex- we are doing as an Embassy is providpand business or if you want to adapt ing information and linking people
business you are able to you find the here be it with experts in Switzerlabor force and that you are not in land or with representatives of Swiss
the need to develop everything from companies here in the United States.
scratch which sometimes takes years. I am happy also that there is interest
We have a business friendly environ- expressed even in Congress. There is
ment.
a bipartisan caucus where every week
there is something going on in terms
of vocational training.
Katia: Tell us about the Swiss
vocational education model and the
U.S. Department of Labor’s work
on establishing an apprenticeship
program based on it.
Ambassador Dahinden: The
Swiss companies quite some time
Katia: Is there anything we have
not talked about that you would
like to discuss?
Ambassador Dahinden: It is interesting thinking of what the difference between Switzerland and
the United States is. In Switzerland
people are usually very organized,
precise, and timely. We also produce
watches and so on. What is lacking
a little bit in the Swiss is very present in the United States. The spirit of
experimentation, of crossing borders,
of doing the unexpected, and also of
taking risks - even the risk of failure.
I think; therefore, a combination of
those capabilities is something that is
or could be beneficial to both sides.
This is something that is very exciting and that I experience in my dayto-day interactions in the United
States.