This year is very special for Switzerland and for Pakistan because both our countries are celebrating 70 years of their friendly bilateral relations!
As you know Switzerland is famous for its icy Swiss Alps, delicious chocolates, precision watches, sumptuous cheese, and high-tech machines. And when it comes to extensive research and rigorous development, Switzerland is also proudly ranked first amongst the most innovative countries of the world. Known for its Swissness, which is globally acclaimed as symbol of high precision and top quality, the Swiss Confederation benefits from its stable political system, advanced education structure, direct democracy, social welfare planning, robust economy, and yes it has Gotthard - the world's largest train tunnel. Thanks to its neutrality, almost all of the United Nations organizations also have offices in Geneva. You would appreciate the fact that despite being a small country of a little over 8 Million people, 25% of which are actually foreigners, Switzerland has convivial relations with its neighboring countries. Because of this very fact, 70% of all 'Made-in-Switzerland' products are exported to the larger markets in the European Union of which Switzerland by the way is not a member.
Speaking of Swiss-Pak relations, Switzerland is proud to be one of the countries that recognized Pakistan soon after its creation. I am happy to report that since the beginning of this collaboration, which I too appreciate from the time I arrived last year in Karachi, both our countries are enjoying excellent relations, in many ways.
In terms of economic cooperation, at present directly 21 and indirectly about 80 Swiss companies are successfully operating in the provinces of Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 14'774 Pakistanis are directly employed by them. Bilateral trade, which surged 15% compared to the year before last, today stands at CHF 481 Million. In 2016, Switzerland mostly exported chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Pakistani textiles exports to Switzerland also had an all-time high increase of 20%. Here I must mention that for the past decade Swiss companies in Pakistan have invested CHF 1.5 Billion, making Switzerland stand among the top five foreign direct investors. Earlier last month, I had the pleasure to lead an official delegation from Pakistan to Switzerland. CEOs of Swiss companies and a few Pakistani companies joined me for this business trip. It was more of a road-show through which I and other delegates tried to present the challenges and opportunities Pakistan, a country of over 200 Million habitants, has. At almost all the events I was overwhelmed to see the turnover of Swiss companies, mostly small and medium size, that consider Pakistan as one of their upcoming export markets.
Since Switzerland is also world renowned for its dual education system, my country took some early steps to assist Pakistan in vocational training and conventional studies. In Karachi I gladly share the success story of two legacy institutions; 1) Pak-Swiss Training Centre, founded 51 years ago by 'Swisscontact' to train Pakistani students in the field of precision tools etc., and 2) Pak-Swiss Horological Training Centre, setup by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) in 1967, which I am told was at that time the only center of expertise in South Asia to produce skilled watch repairers. Through the Embassy of Switzerland in Islamabad, as you must have already read in the Swiss Ambassador's message, Switzerland is also providing scholarships to young and dynamic Pakistani students to pursue PhD. and Postdoc studies in leading Swiss universities and institutes of technology.
Last but not the least; I thank and congratulate the team of Business Recorder who took keen interest to publish this exclusive report on Switzerland, which I hope gives useful information to the readers. I also cordially invite you all to "Like", "Follow", and "Share" the official Facebook page - /SwitzerlandinPakistan - of the Embassy with the Cooperation Office, and the Consulate General.