Switzerland Global Enterprise continued to successfully implement its strategy in 2024 and build on the foundations created in recent years. This is also reflected in the annual financial statements, which provide a stable picture of the financial situation. The funds from the Confederation and the cantons were effectively used to benefit Swiss companies and Switzerland as a business location. S-GE was able to maintain proceeds from paid services at around the previous year’s level and use it to cover its customers’ costs. From the association’s own capital, CHF 0.88 million was used for the strategic development of the organization and its services, particularly in the area of digitalization. 

As a non-profit organization, S-GE reported a balanced result in its core operating business (after funds). 6,642 companies received support in export promotion in 2024, an increase of 16% from the previous year (5,711 companies). The rise in demand was driven, on the one hand, by the increasingly complex market environment with new trade barriers, and, on the other, by new opportunities created by new framework conditions such as free trade agreements. In investment promotion, S-GE was able to pass on 86 settlement and innovation projects to the cantons, fewer than in the previous year (107). In doing so, S-GE has pushed ahead with the implementation of a selective quality strategy, which involves approaching fewer yet still highly innovative companies that refresh Switzerland’s innovative capacity. The high performance in both service mandates was made possible in particular by investments made in digital services in recent years, which are having a lasting impact in both export promotion and investment promotion. Regular customer surveys continue to confirm the very high impact of the services.  

Payments by the Confederation and the Cantons
The annual financial statements for 2024 show federal funds totaling CHF 27.1 million. This includes, among other things, CHF 1.3 million for the additional large-scale infrastructure mandate. As part of this additional mandate, S-GE has been working with partners since 2022 to promote improved access for Swiss companies to large-scale infrastructure projects abroad. In 2024, 140 projects worth CHF 169 billion were identified, events were organized with the involvement of over 600 Swiss company participants, and the digital customer platform was expanded. Highlights included a forum on the Brazilian market and the integration of the cleantech mandate, which further strengthened the focus on sustainability within the additional mandate.

Furthermore, in the investment promotion basic mission, S-GE was financed with contributions from the cantons amounting to CHF 1.2 million, the same as in the previous year.

In addition to the sums mentioned above, CHF 11.06 million was made available for the external network, i.e. for the Swiss Business Hubs located in the embassies, most of which will be used for the salaries of the Swiss Business Hub employees. The FDFA pays these funds directly to the external network and they are not shown in these annual financial statements. 

In addition, federal funds of CHF 2.3 million for the Trade Fair and Project Committee (MPK) were recorded in 2024. 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 10.7 million (2023: CHF 10.6 million). The increase in revenue at trade fairs (+13%) is worth particular mention: due to high demand, more trade fair appearances were able to be held than in the previous year. In consulting, the exceptionally high revenue from the previous year fell slightly (-15%) due in part to less organized travel, as well as a decrease in direct demand for support in the markets. Overall, other operating profit and membership fees in 2024 were slightly above the previous year’s level.

Direct Costs
Direct costs came to CHF 12.7 million overall, equivalent to CHF 0.6 million or 4.4% below the previous year’s figure. On the one hand, the costs of consulting services fell roughly in proportion to the slight reduction in sales. On the other hand, direct costs in other areas, particularly investment promotion, were slightly lower than in the previous year, as the costs for some activities abroad (e.g. setting up the Swiss Business Hub Nordics) will not be incurred until 2025.  

Personnel Expenses
At CHF 18.1 million, personnel expenses were CHF 0.1 million, or 0.6 percent lower than in the previous year. Costs reductions due to the delayed filling of vacancies and lower expenditure on personnel costs were partly offset by inflation. As at the end of 2024, S-GE had a total of 117 employees at the Zurich, Renens, and Lugano locations (previous year: 119 employees), split across 107 full-time positions (previous year: 108 full-time positions).

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. The Cleantech Fund is being shown for the first time, as the holdings at the end of the year were previously zero.

After the Export Promotion Fund was reduced by CHF 0.4 million in 2023, it was built up again in 2024 and now amounts to CHF 1.4 million (+CHF 0.7 million). The main drivers were, on the one hand, slightly higher profit margins in consulting and at trade fairs, and on the other hand, a major focus by S-GE on establishing strategic foundations (particularly digitalization), which was partly financed by the association’s capital.

Certain fund holdings were also built up within the basic mission of investment promotion and the additional mandate for large-scale infrastructure. These will be used for expenses at the beginning of 2025 if less federal funding is available.

Funds were allocated to the Cleantech Fund for the first time. This was due to temporary cost reductions as part of the closer merger with the additional mandate for large-scale infrastructure projects. The funds in the MPK’s “Third Parties and Trade Fairs” fund were partially reduced. 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, the financial stability of the association, offers financial leeway in crises, and strengthens measures for clients as part of the annual priorities set and to support service mandate. In 2024, CHF 0.9 million was used for the organization’s strategic development, in particular for the development of digital customer services and the corresponding foundations in the systems. As at the end of 2024, the equity ratio (including fund capital) was 54.3 percent and the liquidity situation remains solid.

Risk Assessment
In the past financial year, S-GE did not identify any risks affecting the annual financial statements and corporate reporting. In order to minimize any risks and adverse effects, appropriate internal arrangements have been put in place, both with regard to accounting systems and processes, and the preparation of the annual financial statements.