On SECO's SME portal you will find useful information and links on the most important topics relating to foreign trade, such as administration and customs formalities for import and export, setting up a branch or subsidiary abroad and limiting risks.

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The Swiss Association for Hotel Credit (SGH) provides advice on investment and financing issues relating to the accommodation industry. For example, it advises on compliance with the Federal Act on the Acquisition of Immovable Property by Foreign Non-Residents (ANRA) or the Second Homes Act (SHA). In addition, the SGH can provide you with company valuations or a feasibility check of business plans.

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Is your company planning to settle in Switzerland? The S-GE specialists can answer your questions on the individual factors affecting your choice of location in more detail and advise you of the advantages and specific conditions. They are very familiar with the concerns and needs of internationally active companies and understand the Swiss business environment, and will network you with other offices if necessary.

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Is your SME sustainable in the long term, but the banks are seeking financial guarantees? The loan guarantee organisations supported by the Confederation give you easier access to bank loans of up to CHF 1 million. There are currently three regional guarantee cooperatives in Switzerland, as well as a national one specifically for women.

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Increase your knowledge of target countries, focus sectors and current export topics in a series of events and webinars. Learn new and essential facts about export, get inspired by business opportunities, exchange ideas with experts and expand your network.

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SECO's SME portal offers checklists and detailed information on setting up a company. The practical overview allows you to compare the different legal forms and weigh up their advantages and disadvantages. You will also learn how to choose the appropriate legal form, conduct a market analysis, draw up a business plan and register your company in the commercial register.

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The Confederation offers many different financial support options for regional development projects. Project managers can find simple and targeted information on the various funding opportunities for their projects at regiosuisse.ch. The interactive tool was created jointly by the four federal offices SECO, ARE, FOAG and FOEN.

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Do you have an investment project for an accommodation business? The Swiss Association for Hotel Credit SGH can help, providing loans for all aspects of your project from acquisition through new construction or replacement construction to the complete renovation of an accommodation business. These loans are designed to close any gaps that may arise between equity, bank financing and other sources of financing.

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Would you like to offer your Swiss customers favourable export financing and support them in financing their production? Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV offers a range of products for financial institutions.

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Are you looking for financial support for your idea for tourism in Switzerland? SECO supports intercompany projects which develop new products or new business opportunities; optimise services, increase efficiency; or optimise education and training.

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Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV provides surety of payment for your export business by insuring against political or del credere risk. It also allows you to offer your foreign customers attractive payment terms and to find suitable banks for your business in your target country.

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Over 940 online federal and cantonal services facilitate the daily work of SMEs. Businesses can save time in accessing information, obtaining licences and handling transactions with the public administration on single online platform. Federal services and those of each canton are listed separately.

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On SECO's SME portal you can find essential information on running your business in the best possible way, from tools for your marketing strategy through practical tips on using social media to information on how to make your IT infrastructure more secure, or the certifications and ISO standards your company needs as proof of quality. You can also find out how to protect your innovations or logo from misuse and what you need to consider when setting up a webshop.

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The right employees in the right place: Human resource planning is a crucial success factor, especially for SMEs. On SECO's SME portal you will find regulations and useful information about human resources management, on topics such as recruitment, performance appraisals, job notification requirements and social insurance. The portal also gives an overview of Swiss labour law and recommendations on health and safety at work.

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Are you looking to sell your products or services abroad? Are you planning to expand your international business? Or are you looking for a suitable business partner abroad? From consulting to support in the target market: S-GE has branch offices in 31 countries and a national and international partner network to help you in the internationalisation process.

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Whether you're setting up a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company (GmbH) or a public limited company (AG), EasyGov makes the process simple and easy. Via the online desk you can record your company in the commercial register, and register for VAT and accident insurance and with the OASI compensation office.

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EasyGov makes administrative procedures for businesses simple, fast and efficient. Numerous official services can be processed digitally with the Confederation and the cantons via the online desk. For example, you can register your company in the commercial register, file a debt collection request or register foreign workers. 24/7, 365 days a year.

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Are you looking for a successor for your business? Or are you planning to liquidate your company? On SECO's SME portal you'll find an overview of the different ways of transferring a company, various methods of calculating a company's value and tips on financing the succession. The website also describes the steps that need to be taken to liquidate a company.

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The Tourism Forum Switzerland (TFS) brings together the tourism sector, federal and cantonal tourism authorities and academia to exchange ideas and exploit potential synergies. In addition, the TFS helps to publicise new ideas and successful strategies in tourism. Expand your knowledge at the webinars held throughout the year on a range of different topics or exchange ideas with other members of the tourist industry. You can also take part in the workshops and discussion panels at the TFS Annual Event in November (by invitation only).

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Locating your business in the Swiss Innovation Park

If your company is driven by innovation and keen to work with Swiss universities to develop new marketable products or services, then with the help of Switzerland Innovation you can find the right Swiss innovation park for you to collaborate successfully with local universities, research institutes and other companies.

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Gain inspiration from existing projects in the regiosuisse project database and develop your own regional development project. The database contains more than 3,000 projects, organised into 15 topics and supported by 10 different funding programmes, among them the New Regional Policy (NRP)

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The GoGlobal Cockpit supports companies that want to expand abroad with products, software or services. The interactive online platform helps you plan where best to expand, what new opportunities there are in your target country and how to export your products.

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Tax relief on direct federal tax is available for regional development projects. The federal government thus helps to boost the competitiveness of individual regions and supports their value creation. You can apply to the local canton for tax relief under regional policy; the contact details of the cantonal economic development offices can be found on our website.

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HotellerieSuisse and SECO help accommodation businesses to prepare for future challenges. A coach supports you e.g. in financial planning, process optimisation, repositioning and sustainability. New solutions help you to increase your competitiveness. This is aimed particularly at SMEs in which the management is involved in operational activities. Coaching is funded from the New Regional Policy (NRP).

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As a member of the programme, you can offer your guests from Switzerland and abroad a sustainable travel experience. Your business may already be certified, or you may want it to have a more sustainable future; either way, the Swisstainable label shows that your business is making a positive contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. The joint PR campaign between Switzerland Tourism and the tourism industry raises awareness of their long-term sustainability strategy.

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SECO's SME portal provides an overview of the different sources of funding, shows how you can organise your company's accounts and gives tips on what can be deducted for tax purposes. In addition, you will learn on the online platform how you can safely manage your company with careful risk management even in times of crisis.

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The regiosuisse website offers a wide range of information on instruments, offers and services relating to regional development in Switzerland. Stakeholders can expand their knowledge of regional development, exchange ideas with other professionals and engage in networking.

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Are you looking to organise a conference or seminar? Are you looking for a hotel that you can use exclusively for your event? Do you need inspiration for a suitable fringe programme? Why not contact the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau, whose specialists will support you in organising your exceptional event anywhere in Switzerland, link you to the right contacts and find individual solutions with you.

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In regiosuisse's database of experts you will find the contact details of the persons responsible at federal, cantonal and regional level for the New Regional Policy (NRP), for the EU's cross-border cooperation programme Interreg, for agglomeration policy and for policy on rural and mountain areas. Contacts can be searched by level, group or canton, making it easier for you to access the right person.

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Are you a creative personality looking to move forward the development of your region? Perhaps you already have a specific idea, or are just starting out; either way, get inspired by projects that are already going ahead, and find out whether and how a project is eligible for support. On the regional development platform regiosuisse.ch you will find tools for every step of your regional development project, from initial idea to implementation.

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Is your company considering setting up a branch in Switzerland? Would you like to get an idea of the environment and of the advantages of doing business in Switzerland? S-GE provides comprehensive information on Switzerland as a location for your company.

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Simplified access for Swiss exporters to large-scale infrastructure projects worldwide

Team Switzerland Infrastructure acts as a service provider for Swiss exporters, foreign EPCs and authorities. Team Switzerland Infrastructure identifies international infrastructure projects and business opportunities, connects Swiss companies with key players from the federal government, the private sector and the export promotion instruments as well as international financing institutions, and offers customized financial services. Team Switzerland Infrastructure is made up of the federal offices SECO, DETEC and FDFA, the export promotion instruments Switzerland Global Enterprise and the Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV as well as the industry associations Swissrail, Swissmem and suisse.ing.

Team Switzerland Infrastructure
Major international projects for Swiss SMEs | SERV
Infrastructure projects: opportunities for Swiss SMEs | S-GE

Would you like to initiate a project that reaches beyond Switzerland's borders? The EU's Interreg programmes, in which Switzerland participates under the New Regional Policy (NRP), support cross-border regional development projects. Although Swiss project partners cannot benefit from EU funding, they are able to apply for federal and/or cantonal funding. Switzerland participates in ten programmes, which have different topics, application procedures and selection criteria.

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Get inspired by exemplary projects – for example on building culture or ecological sustainability – and build up your knowledge first-hand. Half-day Walk the Talk workshops take place two or three times a year, at which a focused discussion on a specific topic is held. The aim is to promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge gained from projects, share important findings and allow as many people as possible to benefit.

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Switzerland Tourism's market research platform gives you access to data-based information on the needs of tourists in Switzerland. Here you will find a range of analyses, studies and statistics such as accommodation figures or the results of the largest national guest survey.

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Switzerland Tourism (ST) has a local presence in the most important source markets for tourism in Switzerland. The numerous activities and platforms in the markets are open to you as a partner of ST, and you have opportunities for promoting your product with ST under the Swiss label. This is an easy way to have a presence in the source markets of your choice.

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Are you looking to engage in a professional activity in Switzerland and you do not know whether a permit is required by the Confederation, canton or commune? The permit database will help you. Information is available in German, French, Italian and English.

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The six regional innovation systems offer a range of services to promote SMEs' competitiveness and innovative capacity in Switzerland. The services include networking events, coaching, and thematic platforms. Moreover, RIS work as a hub while regrouping services offered by other public and private agencies active in innovation and referring SMEs to these where appropriate.

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Would you like to know how jobs and unemployment are developing in your region? Or where population and income are increasing and decreasing? Regiosuisse regional monitoring services measure trends in the regional economy in Switzerland. You can also compile your own monitoring report or commission a special assessment of your region.

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The Trade Fair and Project Committee (TFPC) awards grants to associations and organisations to attend trade fairs or to run projects in export markets worldwide. The TFPC supports around 90 projects each year, thereby helping well over 1,000 companies to expand their export business.

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Switzerland Tourism runs a number of events for members, partners and the entire tourism industry. Gain an overview of the tourism landscape and learn more about the main events at which you can present your product, network with others from the tourism industry or find out about the latest trends.

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Get in touch for an initial consultation if your commune wants to make better use of the potential of digitalisation. Together with the Swiss Centre for Mountain Regions (SAB), SECO has launched the Smart Villages/Smart Regions programme, from which around 40 mountain communities can benefit. In consultation with the local people, the communes draw up specific measures to improve the quality of life locally and reduce resource consumption with the help of digitalisation.

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The Swiss Association for Hotel Credit SGH shares its knowledge on investment, financing and related strategic issues as well as on funding instruments for the accommodation industry at events, awards, workshops, presentations and lectures. The SGH can provide you with valuable information and further links. For example, you will learn what needs to go in a business plan or which exemptions apply under the Second Homes Act. The SGH can also answer any specific questions you may have about a project.

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Do you export abroad and would you or your customers in the destination country like to know the amount of import duties levied? Or would you like to know which import regulations apply in the destination country? The customs database provides straightforward information on lists of goods, customs tariffs, import formalities and rules of origin in over 135 countries.

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