Swiss ambassador aims to boost trade and investment in Türkiye

Guillaume Bertrand Scheurer, the Swiss ambassador to Ankara, expressed intentions to enhance both the trade volume and the number of Swiss companies in Türkiye. He stated, “We have the potential to do much better for various reasons.”

Scheurer noted that political and economic relations between Türkiye and Switzerland are progressing well, highlighting a trade balance equivalent to approximately $20 billion. He pointed out the presence of over 150 Swiss companies operating and investing in Türkiye, which have directly created more than 19,000 jobs, emphasizing the high quality and significant knowledge transfer involved in these roles.

Having recently started his tenure, Scheurer remarked, “I aim to increase our trade volume and the number of Swiss companies in Türkiye. We have the potential to achieve much more.” He also mentioned that Switzerland has been recognized as the world’s most innovative country for the past 13 years, with Swiss companies investing heavily in research and development to maintain this status.

Market dynamics and collaboration opportunities

Scheurer described Türkiye as a large market and Switzerland as a smaller one, noting the numerous free trade agreements held by both nations. He pointed out Türkiye’s role as a driving force for innovation, indicating substantial opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit between the two countries.

“We will work to bring Switzerland a bit closer to Türkiye while ensuring that the potential of Türkiye is better understood by Swiss companies,” he added.

Scheurer highlighted Switzerland as one of the most globalized countries, with significant demand in sectors such as textiles, automotive, railways, services, finance, technology, and artificial intelligence. He emphasized that collaboration between Swiss and Turkish technologies could lead to substantial advancements.

Reflecting on Switzerland’s consistent ranking among the top direct foreign investors in Türkiye over the past decade, Scheurer mentioned that last year, Switzerland was the eighth largest investor in Türkiye. He emphasized the potential for further improvement in investment opportunities, particularly in traditional sectors like banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, as well as new initiatives in green industries.

Scheurer noted the excellent collaboration with Turkish officials since his arrival, having engaged in numerous discussions aimed at fostering better cooperation between Switzerland and Türkiye. He also highlighted the 140,000 Turkish citizens living in Switzerland, referring to them as beneficial ambassadors for Türkiye when they return home for holidays or retirement.

Looking forward, Scheurer plans to strengthen ties with his Turkish counterpart in Bern and enhance connections with the Turkish Consulate General in Zurich.