Despite strong growth in demand, Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) was still able to provide high-quality services and successfully implement its orders in export and investment promotion. In the annual financial statements, S-GE is able to report a stable financial position. The funds from the Confederation and the cantons were effectively used to benefit Swiss companies and Switzerland as a hub for business and innovation. S-GE was able to increase proceeds from paid services compared to the previous year and use them to cover its customers’ costs. In 2025, S-GE was able to use its existing organizational capital to finance a limited discount on services for Swiss companies affected by the high US tariffs.
7,237 companies received support in export promotion in 2025, an increase of 9% from the previous year (6,642 companies). On the one hand, high levels of uncertainty due to geopolitical developments and, in particular, US tariffs led to higher demand. On the other hand, the new free trade agreements led to a greater need for support among companies to enable them to make even better use of the new opportunities arising as a result. In investment promotion, S-GE was able to pass on 92 settlement and innovation projects to the cantons (previous year: 86). The majority of projects (81%) involved target companies from select innovation ecosystems. This enabled S-GE to further advance its selective approach to investment promotion and make an effective contribution to Switzerland’s innovative capacity. Thanks to its services, S-GE was able to have a lasting positive impact in both export promotion and investment promotion. This is also confirmed by new studies conducted in 2025: According to a study by the economic consulting institute Swiss Economics on behalf of S-GE, every Swiss franc invested by the Confederation generates 34 CHF in additional export sales. In investment promotion, an in-house study by S-GE – based on official data from the cantons – shows that every Swiss franc invested in investment promotion generates an additional 6 CHF in tax revenue. Regular customer surveys conducted externally continue to confirm the very high impact of export services.
Payments by the Confederation and the Cantons
The annual financial statements for 2025 show federal funds totaling CHF 26.2 million (previous year: CHF 27.1 million). This includes, among other things, CHF 0.8 million for the additional large-scale infrastructure mandate.
Furthermore, in the investment promotion basic mission, S-GE was covered by contributions from the cantons amounting to CHF 1.2 million, the same as in the previous year.
In addition to the amounts mentioned above, CHF 10.6 million was made available for the external network, i.e. for the Swiss Business Hubs located in the embassies (previous year: CHF 11.06 million). Most of these funds are used to pay the salaries of the employees of Swiss Business Hubs. The FDFA transfers the funds directly to the external network and they are not shown in these annual financial statements.
Federal funds of CHF 2.2 million for the Trade Fair and Project Committee (MPK) were recorded in 2025. The MPK operates independently, but its administration and accounting is handled by S-GE.
Increasing Proceeds from Supplies and Services
Proceeds from supplies and services amounted to CHF 12.9 million (2024: CHF 10.7 million). The increase in sales of consultations is worth particular mention (+48 percent). This record is primarily due to the high number of projects that directly supported customers in the target market. A funding program run by the Canton of Bern for companies affected by US tariffs (vouchers for Bernese SMEs for S-GE services, financed by the Canton of Bern) also contributed to the high sales. In trade fairs, S-GE recorded growth (+10 percent) due to the continued rise in demand. The main reason for the drop in other operating profit was accounts receivable valuations: Allowance for doubtful accounts (CHF 21,600) was formed in the 2025 financial year, although it was able to be released in the previous year (CHF 80,800). At CHF 1.1 million, membership contributions for 2025 are slightly up from the previous year.
Direct Costs
Direct costs came to CHF 9.7 million overall, equivalent to CHF 1.9 million or 20 percent above the previous year’s figure. The costs of consulting and trade fair services have risen approximately in proportion to the sharp increase in sales.
Personnel Expenses
At CHF 18.6 million, personnel expenses were CHF 0.3 million, or 1.6 percent higher than in the previous year. The additional costs are the result of the slightly higher headcount (to cover the sharp increase in demand) and inflation adjustment. As at the end of 2025, S-GE had a total of 119 employees at the Zurich, Renens, and Lugano locations (previous year: 117 employees), split across 108.4 full-time positions (previous year: 107).
Fund Developments and Organizational Capital
S-GE has five restricted funds: the Export Promotion Fund, the Investment Promotion Fund, the Large-Scale Infrastructure Fund, the Cleantech Fund, and the Third Parties and Trade Fairs Fund of the Trade Fair and Project Committee.
In 2025, the Export Promotion Fund was partly used as planned and amounted to CHF 0.8 million at the end of the year (CHF -0.6 million). This ensured that the high customer demand was met. With regard to the basic mission of investment promotion, the entire fund holdings of more than CHF 0.35 million were fully utilized in the current financial year due to reduced federal funds.
The fund holdings for the additional missions for large-scale infrastructure and cleantech amount to CHF 65,000 and CHF 45,000 respectively. These fund holdings will be used for expenses at the beginning of 2026 if less federal funding is available. The funds in the MPK’s “Third Parties and Trade Fairs” fund were partially built up. All fund holdings lie within the permissible limits.
The association capital of S-GE is part of the organizational capital and is financed by the membership fees. It is intended to fund association activities within the framework of the basic missions and the financial stability of the association. The association capital also offers financial leeway in times of crisis and strengthens measures for clients as part of the annual priorities set and to support service mandates. CHF 0.4 million was allocated in 2025, following the use of CHF 0.9 million in the previous year for the strategic development of the organization, in particular for the development of digital customer services. As at the end of 2025, the equity ratio (including fund capital) was 56.6 percent and the liquidity situation remains solid.
Risk Assessment
The Finance, Audit and Risk Committee assesses the risk situation on a quarterly basis. It did not identify any risks in the past financial year that could affect the annual financial statements and corporate reporting. In order to minimize any risks and adverse effects, appropriate internal arrangements are put in place as a preventative measure on an ongoing basis, both with regard to accounting systems and processes as well as to the preparation of the annual financial statements.
