Switzerland (Bern)

By:- Surbhi Jindal

Introduction Switzerland is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities, the so-called Bundesstadt ("federal city"). The country is situated in Western and Central Europe,

where it is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is a landlocked countrygeographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura, spanning an area of 41,285 km2 While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 8 million people is concentrated mostly on the Plateau,

Switzerland ranks high in several metrics of national performance, including government transparency, civil liberties, economic competitiveness, and human development. It has the highest nominal wealth per adult in the world according to Credit Suisse and the eighth-highest per capita gross domestic product on the IMF list. Swiss citizens have the second-highest life expectancy in the world. Zürich and Geneva each have been ranked among the top cities with the highest quality of life in the world.

Capital City– Bern Largest City– Zurich

History The oldest traces of hominid existence in Switzerland date back about 150,000 years. The oldest known farming settlements in Switzerland which were found at Gächlingen, have been dated to around 5300 BC.

Old Swiss Confederacy was an alliance among the valley communities of the central Alps. The Confederacy fa-

cilitated management of common interests and ensured peace on the important mountain trade routes. The Federal Charter of 1291 agreed between the rural communes of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden is considered the confedera-cy's founding document, even though similar alliances are likely to have existed decades earlier.

Napoleonic era In 1798, the revolutionary French government conquered Switzerland and imposed a new

unified constitution. This centralised the government of the country, effectively abolishing the cantons: moreo-ver, Mülhausen joined France and Valtellina valley, he Cisalpine Republic, separating from Switzerland.

Federal State, The first Federal Palace in Bern (1857). One of the three cantons presiding over

the Tagsatzung (former legislative and executive council), Bern was chosen as the federal capital in 1848, mainly because of its closeness to the French-speaking area. The war convinced most Swiss of the need for unity and strength towards its European neighbours

600000-30000 B.C.

Ice Age

3000-1800 B.C.

Stone Age

1800-800 B.C.

Bronze Age

58B.C.- 400A.D.

Roman Period

1291-1515

Old Swiss Confederacy

2002

Joins the U.N.

1939-1945

World War ll

1937

Peace Agreement

1933-1939

Spiritual

Defence

1920

League of Nations

1918-1933

Economic Crisis

1914-1918

World War l

1926

Automated Public

Telephone Exchange

1898

State Railways

1882-1883

Emigration

1850

First Stock Exchange

1804

First Chemical Factory

1764

Textile Machines

Invented

1848

Federal State

1830-1848

Regeneration

Milestones

Languages

Religion

The cuisine of Switzerland is multifaceted. While some dishes such as fondue, raclette or rösti are om-nipresent through the country, each region developed its own gastronomy according to the differences of climate.

Cuisine

Switzerland has no official state religion, though most of the cantons (except Geneva and Neuchâtel) recognize official churches, which are either the Catholic Church or the (Protestant) Swiss Reformed Church. These churches, and in some cantons also theOld Catholic Church.

Sports Skiing, snowboarding and mountaineering are among the most popular sports in Switzer-land, the nature of the country being particu-larly suited for such activities. Winter sports are practiced by the natives and tourists

Comparative analysis

GDP Growth Rate

India The Economy of India is the tenth-largest in the world by nominal GDP and the third-largest by purchasing power parity

Switzerland The economy of Switzer-

land is one of the world's most stable economies.

Per Capita Income

India ranked at 148th out of 164

countries by the World Bank.

Switzerland ranked at 6th out of

164 countries by world Bank

India Switzerland

India Switzerland Population

India During the 19th&20th centu-ries, population growth rate has been at 0.7% to 0.8%, with a doubling time. Switzerland India's population growth has

raised concerns that it would lead to wide-spread unemployment

Human Development Index

India ranks 135 in human development index. Improvement in human development measures has slowed down in the past few years.

Switzerland was 0.917 points in 2013, leav-

ing it in 3th place in the table of 178 countries published.

Major Industries Contributing 20% in GDP

Machinery

Engineering Metals

Electrical 1.GLencore International

2.Novartis

Major Companies

3.Zurich insurance Group

4.Roche Group

5.Credit Suisse

Switzerland industry sectors are chiefly engaged in manufac-turing imported raw materials into fin-ished products for domestic consumption as well as exports. A majority of the Swiss

Industries are con-centrated on the re-gions of Zurich, Bern

Solothurn, St. Gallen, Vaud and Thurgau. Switzerland’s industry sectors (including construction) play a vital role in the nation’s economy, accounting for over 30% of its GDP. The growth rate of the sector was as high as 6.5% in 2006. The sector is also critical to the growth of the Swiss economy as it employs over 350,000 of the working population. Switzerland’s export volumes are among the largest in the world.

Government The federal constitution defines Switzerland as a federal state composed of 26 ca-tons with far reaching autonomy.

Switzerland's government, parliament and courts are organized on three levels:

federal cantonal (26 cantonal constitutions) Communal

Switzerland does not have a full-time presi-dent; the representational functions of a president are taken over by one of the gov-ernment members. Every year another mem-ber of the government team is elect-ed federal president in turn so that every government member assumes this role once in seven years.

The politics of Switzerland take place in the framework of a multi-party federal directorial democratic republic, where by the Federal Council of Switzerland is the head of

government and head of state. Executive power is exercised by the government and the federal administration and is not concentrated in any one person.

Politics Military The Swiss Armed Forces, including the Land Forces and the Air Force, are composed mostly of conscripts, male citizens aged from 20 to 34 years. Being a landlocked country, Switzerland has no navy; however, on lakes bordering neighbouring coun-tries, armed military patrol boats are used. Swiss citizens are prohibited from serving in foreign armies, except for the Swiss Guards of the Vatican, or if they are dual citizens of a for-eign country and reside there. approx-imately 20,000 persons are trained in recruit centres for a duration from 18 to 21 weeks

International Relations Country Began Relations Canada 1945 Canada has an embassy in Bern and a consulate in Geneva.

Switzerland has an embassy in Ottawa and consulates-general in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver

United States 1853 The U.S. Embassy in Switzerland is in Bern. The U.S. Mission to the European Office and other International Organi-zations, the U.S. Mission to the WTO, and the U.S. Delegation to the Conference on Disarmament are in Geneva.

Australia 1961 Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1961. Australia is represented to Switzerland through its em-bassy in Berlin (Germany) and Australia also has a consulate-general in Geneva.

Iran 1919 Bilateral relations became closer after the Iraq war in 2003. Today Iraq has an embassy in Bern and Switzerland has a representative office in Baghdad.

Pakistan 1963 Switzerland ranks fifth in terms of foreign direct investment in Pakistan. Pakistan has an embassy in Bern, whilst Switzerland has an embassy in Islamabad, a Consulate-General in Karachi and an honorary consulate in Lahore.

South Africa 1956 Switzerland has an embassy in Pretoria and a general consulate in Cape Town.

South African Department of Foreign Affairs about relations with Switzerland

South Korea 1956 South Korea and Switzerland have had a close relationship since the Korean War. Switzerland is one of the two countries, alongside Sweden, representing South Korea's interests at the Demilitarized Zone.

INDIA-SWITZERLAND Relations Switzerland’s good, intensive and dynamic rela-

tions with India are reflected in a large number of agreements and treaties and also in frequent, high-ranking diplomatic visits. Economic and scientific cooperation are becoming more important.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations Switzerland and India have concluded19 bilateral agreements. They reflect those fields that are important

for both countries: trade, education and development cooperation. A regular political dialogue has been taking place since 2005.

Economic cooperation

India enjoys a priority status in Switzerland’s foreign economic policy. During the state visit by the Indian President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, in October 2011, a memorandum of understanding was signed to foster bilateral financial dialogue. Switzerland and India are both involved in negotiat-ing a comprehensive free-trade agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and India.

Cooperation in the domain of education

India’s scientific and technological development potential is substantial. That is why India is one of the seven non-European countries that Switzer-land considers as priorities for its bilateral research cooperation in the field of science and technology.

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

In India, Switzerland is concentrating on innovative programmes, dialogue and cooperation in the field of climate change and energy. The principal focus here is on innovation and capacity development in energy-efficient building design and distributed and renewable energy in the countryside

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