Switzerland, a land of international organisations, and large multinational corporations

Switzerland has a stable, prosperous and high-tech economy and is being ranked as the wealthiest country in the world per capita in multiple rankings.

In terms of value, Switzerland is responsible for half of the world production of watches.

Switzerland is an exciting market of + 8 million consumers with a domestic purchasing power as one of the best in the world.

The Greater Zürich Area, home to 1.5 million inhabitants and 150,000 companies, is one of the most important economic centres in the world.

Switzerland is home to several large multinational corporations. The largest Swiss companies by revenue are Glencore, Gunvor, Nestlé, Novartis, Hoffmann-La Roche, ABB, Mercuria Energy Group and Adecco. Also, notable are UBS AG, Zurich Financial Services, Credit Suisse, Barry Callebaut, Swiss Re, Tetra Pak, The Swatch Group and Swiss International Air Lines. Switzerland is ranked as having one of the most powerful economies in the world.

Switzerland's most important economic sector is manufacturing. Manufacturing consists largely of the production of specialist chemicals, health and pharmaceutical goods, scientific and precision measuring instruments and musical instruments.

The largest exported goods are chemicals, machines/electronics, and precision instruments/watches.

The service sector, especially banking and insurance, tourism, and international organizations is another important industry for Switzerland.

Tourism constitutes an important revenue for the less industrialised alpine regions.

Switzerland has an overwhelmingly private sector economy and low tax rates by Western World standards; overall taxation is one of the smallest of developed countries.

 Switzerland is a relatively easy place to do business, currently ranking 20th of 189 countries in the Ease of Doing Business Index. 

Domestic purchasing power is one of the best in the world. Apart from agriculture, economic and trade barriers between the European Union and Switzerland are minimal and Switzerland has free trade agreements worldwide. Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Education in Switzerland is very diverse because the constitution of Switzerland delegates the authority for the school system to the cantons.

Geneva and the nearby French department of Ain co-host the world's largest laboratory, CERN, dedicated to particle physics research. 

Hydroelectricity is the most important domestic source of energy in the country.

Switzerland has a publicly managed road network without road tolls that is financed by highway permits as well as vehicle and gasoline taxes. 

The Swiss autobahn/autoroute system requires the purchase of a vignette (toll sticker), which costs 40 Swiss francs for one calendar year in order to use its roadways, for both passenger cars and trucks. 

Zürich Airport is Switzerland's largest international flight gateway, which handled 22.8 million passengers in 2012.

Switzerland has one of the best environmental records among nations in the developed world. The 2014 Global Green Economy Index ranked Switzerland among the top 10 green economies in the world.

Switzerland developed an efficient system to recycle old newspapers and cardboard materials.