ZURICH: The Swiss economy is expected to grow by 1.2% this year, the government said on Thursday, below the country’s long-term average as a slowdown in Europe and the strength of the Swiss franc weighs on many exporters.

The figure was same level as the forecast given by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in June, and remained below the country’s long-term average growth rate of 1.8%.