Dear Reader,

Greetings. It is with immense satisfaction that New Media Communication is offering a Special Issue of Indo-Swiss Business, commemorating 60 years of lasting friendship between India and Switzerland. Befitting the occasion, we could also make a modest claim that we too have contributed our mite to the promotion of bilateral trade between the two countries through our publication, Indo-Swiss Business, launched in 2002. And, that is the reason why, we have included in this Special Issue, the best of Indo-Swiss Business coverage of the past six years, dotted with several landmark developments, including the visits of Heads of State and business delegations from both countries. The cover story, '60 & Going Strong' highlights in detail the broadening and widening economic relations between India and Switzerland. The issue carries an exhaustive study called 'Swiss Trade and Investment Relations 2008,' made by the Swiss Embassy, with a forward by Ambassador Dominique Dreyer. The Swiss Business Hub India has been a strong facilitator of bilateral trade between the two countries. Fabian Stiefvater, the new Managing Director of Swiss Business Hub talks in an interview about the plans of his organization to promote two-way investment. In the Focus section of the magazine, we carry reports of key Swiss economic sectors of banking, insurance, machinery, pharmaceuticals and healthcare and watch-making. Swiss Bankers Association Chairman Pierre Mirabaud says that the current global financial crisis is also an opportunity for the Swiss banking industry to revamp its functioning. Economists at Swiss Re believe that the likely downturn in insurance business in 2009 will precede its recovery in 2010. While there is a good demand for Swiss watches in India, the country's tax structure is hampering their share of growth in the domestic market, says Jean-Daniel Pasche, President of the Swiss Watch Federation. A report on the Swiss pharma industry says that exports of specialty products are helping its growth. While recession has set in many industries across the globe, the Swiss engineering, electrical and metal industry remains robust even as it is coping with a slowdown in production. The issue also carries a report prepared by the Swiss Embassy on the tremendous investment potential that India offers in the sectors of textiles, power and automobile components. A separate study by Export Import Bank of India too highlights the domestic auto component industry and projects its turnover to touch $40 billion by 2014. The Swiss excel in hospitality education, which complements its flourishing tourism industry. We carry a write-up on the Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality. India's central State of Madhya Pradesh has realized the potential of Information Technology as an engine of economic growth. We carry a study of how the State is developing infrastructure to emerge as a national IT hub. India is a nation of deep faith, which is manifested in 'kumbh' festivals held at various holy cities. We present in this issue the ancient pilgrim town of Ujjain, located in Madhya Pradesh and home to the temple of the powerful Hindu deity 'Mahakaal'. We also share with you the mystique of the Kamakhya temple situated near Guwhati, the capital city of India's North Eastern state of Assam. We also have a write-up on a Swiss museum housing the many fascinating facets of Linga. Then there are reports on the upcoming Tribal Art Film Festival and a film, passionately set and shot in India's holiest city Banaras. We have written and compiled this Special Issue with passion and it is in every respect, a collector's number. Read and relish it and more importantly, keep it for posterity.
We take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year.

 

Satya Swaroop
Managing Editor
satya@newmediacomm.biz