Dear Reader,


Greetings. For the Swiss, watch-making is not a mere, mundane, manufacturing activity. It's a timeless tradition, wrought to perfection over centuries. Of course, the concept of perfection as perceived by the Swiss is nothing but an ongoing and endless process. The result is, the Swiss watchmakers keep competing, not against each other, but against themselves. The exercise to excel oneself is tough and never ends. And that's the mantra the Swiss watchmakers have been practicing all along. Companies such as Swatch, LVMH, TAG Huer posted excellent results for 2006, surpassing their previous best. The outlook projected for them in 2007 is equally bright. The cover story of the current issue of Indo-Swiss Business catches up with the exciting times that the Swiss watch industry has created for itself and, of course, for its customers worldwide. In their watch-making, the Swiss apply two technologies - electronic and mechanical, the latter dating back to the 14th century. We carry the tale of two technologies. The Swiss take pride in everything that is “Swiss Made”. Because the world blindly believes in everything that is “Swiss Made.” Precisely for this reason, the Swiss authorities are keen on making more stringent, the quality norms governing the label “Swiss Made'. We carry an article as part of the cover story. The Swiss watch industry not only competes with other watchmakers across the world, but also with the fakes and counterfeits flooding the markets. A report says that a search for fakes is as futile as finding a needle in a haystack. We carry it. Then, we have watch news ranging from Raymond Weil's ad-campaign that highlights the aspects of Attitude, Look and Elegance to the continuing saga of TAG Heuer's Formula1. The issue covers in detail the annual watch and jewellery show at Basel, which has been scaling new highs, year after year, drawing into its glittering fold, more and more exhibitors and visitors. And the end result, of course, is a huge amount of business conducted. The World Economic Forum, one of the most active global think-tanks, has come up with a remarkable report on Tourism Competitiveness among nations. Judged by various parameters such as infrastructure, standards of facilities offered to tourists and policy measures, Switzerland has topped the list of 124 countries. Also out is Mercer's annual quality of living survey, in which two Swiss cities, namely Zurich and Geneva, have figured as the world's best for living. We carry both the reports. Indo-Swiss economic relations received a boost recently during a high-level B2B interactive session, held in Zurich between Indian and Swiss business leaders, thanks to Swiss Forum for International Business. The current issue highlights the event, besides offering other regular features.
Wish you happy reading

Satya Swaroop
Managing Editor
satya@newmediacomm.biz