Switzerland

Switzerland

The Swiss Confederation is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the headquarters of the federal authorities. Switzerland is located in western Europe, where it is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. The Swiss Confederation was formed over several centuries, but since the end of the thirteenth century it has been distinguished by its keenness on neutrality and its distance from entering into wars with its neighbors. Although it is located in the heart of the European continent, it is distinguished from most of its neighboring countries by its religious and linguistic diversity and its adherence to the practice of direct democracy.

Switzerland is also the cradle of the Red Cross; it is home to a large number of international organizations, including the second largest United Nations office. At the European level, it is a founding member of the European Free Trade Association; it is part of the Schengen area, although it is not a member of the European Union or the European Economic Area except that.

Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita, and contains the highest wealth of an adult (financial and non-financial assets) from any country in the world. Zurich and Geneva are ranked the second and eighth cities among the highest in the quality of life in life in the world. It is the nineteenth country as the largest economy in the world in terms of nominal GDP and number 36 in purchasing power parity.

Switzerland is a country based on respect for minorities and on direct democracy, which eventually led to a federal system of 26 regions or as it is known as Canton, converging on harmony and solidarity among them. Although they differ in identity, the common interest unites them.

It is worth noting that the European Union has no choice if it is to succeed except to adopt the Swiss experience. There is a similarity between Swiss federalism and the European Union with the exception of financial affairs, defense and foreign policy, although modern Switzerland was formed in 1848. In Switzerland, there is not one official language, but there are four languages, and there is not one culture, but there are many diverse, rich and contradictory cultures while Between them.

Some citizens are native French, and they live and work in an open city like Geneva, where there are more than 200 international organizations. Some rural residents live in mountain villages located in Canton Uri, and speak in a German accent, and not only between them as between the Japanese and the Brazilians, but they are linked together with a history of the successes that this country has achieved and is still achieving, and a democracy dating back more than 700 years.

Switzerland includes four main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Although the majority speaks German, it does not constitute a nation in the sense of a common ethnic or linguistic identity but they have a strong sense of belonging to the country that was founded on a common historical background and shared values (Federal and direct democracy) symbolizes the Alps.

Switzerland celebrates its national day on August 1 of every year, which coincides with the creation date of the Swiss Confederation on August 1, 1291.

Switzerland is one of the most powerful economies in the world. Despite its limited area and the lack of raw materials available on its land, Switzerland is witnessing remarkable economic success in the industrial and financial fields. Due to the positive economic and political conditions, many multinationals are based in Switzerland. The country remains heavily dependent on the import of raw materials, semi-manufactured products and finished products, in addition to energy and foodstuffs.

As for agriculture, it is directed mainly towards livestock and dairy production. The country has had great successes in other areas, such as growing grains, grapes and fruits. Switzerland also has a presence in international trade through livestock and dairy production, and in addition to large farms, it has many small and sub-farms. While threatening to invade foreign market products makes Swiss farming an easy challenge.

The Swiss industry is characterized by high-quality products, and small and medium-sized factories are considered the most important industrial sectors in the country. A large part of the industrial products are exported. Among the most important fields of industry and craftsmanship: metal fabrication, machinery and machinery manufacturing, watch and drug manufacturing, chemicals and foodstuffs, luxury products manufacturing and the construction industry. There is also at the forefront of the machinery and machinery industry: the manufacture of electrical appliances, textile machinery, energy production units and centers, locomotives, elevators and precision industries, as well as an increasing number of companies interested in the manufacture of new technology (including environmental and nanotechnology).

As for the Swiss services sector, it is very developed. There are banks and insurance companies, which operate internationally. Switzerland is well-versed in the art of the tourism industry, as tourism also occupies a prominent place, and it has distinctive considerations, from a variety of natural sites to the multiplicity of different sports, in addition to restaurants that offer the best and most delicious specialties.

All of this made Switzerland an enjoyable place to spend holidays and make trips, and to attract large numbers of tourists. On the other hand, Switzerland is heavily involved in the field of international trade, to the point where it is now achieving half of its profits abroad, and its most important trading partners are the European Union countries, the European Common Market countries, the United States of America, Japan and China.

There is progress on the Pacific front, as new markets expand. In 2008, the value of Swiss exports amounted to 216.3 billion francs, while the value of imported goods amounted to 197.4 billion francs, bringing the value of the trade surplus to 18.9 billion francs.

Switzerland is highly dependent on the private sector economy in addition to low tax rates according to the standards of the western world; Switzerland is a relatively easy place to do business, and is currently ranked 28th out of 178 countries in the Ease of Doing Business Index. Switzerland's growth slowed during 1990 and increased during 1993 as a result of the adoption of greater economic reforms and a trend of harmony with the European Union.

According to Credit Suisse, about 37% of the population owns their own homes, which is one of the lowest rates of home ownership in Europe as the level of house and food prices reaches 171% and 145% according to the EU-25 Index in 2007, compared to With 113% and 104% in Germany.

Federal agricultural protectionist policies contributed to the exclusion of Switzerland from the free trade system, which led to higher food prices. However, domestic purchasing power is one of the best in the world. Aside from agriculture, economic and trade barriers between the European Union and Switzerland are at their lowest levels, and Switzerland has signed free trade agreements all over the world, and is a member of the European Free Trade Association

Tourism is one of the traditional sources of income in Switzerland, although the Swiss who travel abroad spend almost the equivalent of the expenses of foreign tourists visiting Switzerland, and the tourism sector is the third largest export industry in the country after the iron industry, engineering and the pharmaceutical sector, employing 250 thousand people.

The Swiss tourism sector arose in the nineteenth century. But the picturesque Swiss scenery has attracted a group of foreign intellectuals and celebrities, through books and art, from the seventeenth century. The Swiss tourism sector flourished during the summer.

In the winter months, heavy snow was a barrier to visitors. With the advent of winter sports activities in the late nineteenth century, especially in Britain, winter holidays have turned into a fashion. Today, the phrase "poor tourist season" refers to only a few weeks in the spring and fall seasons.

Climate changes have had a clear impact on nature in the Swiss Alps, especially on the hiking trails and glaciers in the region. And by encouraging eco-tourism, Switzerland is trying to face the repercussions of this phenomenon on the environment. Glaciers are melting, and in the mountains new plant species are growing while others are extinct.

The consequences of climate change are clearly visible in mountainous regions, and this is quite true for the Swiss Alps. Since the mid-1980s, the length of all glaciers has decreased, and this reached its greatest extent in 2003, when the length of those glaciers decreased by up to five percent. These changes also left their impact on the mountain tourism sector in the alpine regions, and they represent an important source of income, hence it was necessary to find other ways to preserve that sector.

But it is difficult to work to avoid the effects of climate change in that particular region, as mountain tourism should be a companion to the state of the climate, and this is the goal to which the concepts of new eco-tourism aim. There is a pilot project in the Alps known as the “New Monte Rosa Cottage” and it was opened in 2010.

The building enjoys energy self-sufficiency, as it generates and meets its energy needs without resorting to generating it from fossil sources such as oil or coal, as the energy supply is provided by solar panels, and through this water is heated for use in homes, in a manner that is not harmful to the environment . Ventilation and lighting systems have also been installed, operating in an environmentally friendly manner. And if the production of energy is in excess of the need, it can be stored using special batteries.