On March 28, 2011, Valentina Matvienko, St.Petersburg Governor, met with Mr. Ernst Steinmann, Consul General of the Swiss Confederation in St.Petersburg, and discussed with him the prospects of cooperation between St.Petersburg and Switzerland.
On March 28, 2011, Valentina Matvienko, St.Petersburg Governor, met with Mr. Ernst Steinmann, Consul General of the Swiss Confederation in St.Petersburg, and discussed with him the prospects of cooperation between St.Petersburg and Switzerland.
Talking with the Consul, the Governor stressed that the relations between our countries are developing dynamically thanks to the regular political contacts.
In 2010, the foreign trade of St.Petersburg with Switzerland increased by 20% as compared with 2009, while the Swiss investment in the economy of St.Petersburg was about $154 million. A direct flight St.Petersburg–Zurich was opened in 2008.
St.Petersburg is interested in expanding the cooperation with Switzerland, and, above all, in such areas as culture, tourism, science and education, health, development and production of new medications. Swiss companies will participate in the creation of the St.Petersburg pharmaceutical cluster, implementing their large investment projects. Thus, a group of companies Novartis intends to become a resident of special economic zone Novo-Orlovskaya and build a research and production complex.
According to the Consul General, Switzerland and St.Petersburg have a great potential to increase mutual tourist flows, including those due to the development of air services between our two countries. E. Steinmann said that the permission for 72-hour visa-free stay of foreign tourists in St.Petersburg made a favorable impact on increasing the flow of tourists from Switzerland.
The Consul General expressed his interest in the participation of Swiss companies in the modernization program for St.Petersburg public health care, as well as in cooperation of Swiss and St.Petersburg universities. It concerns not only the exchange of students, but also establishing the joint ventures for the development of information technology.
Summarizing the discussions, Valentina Matvienko stressed the necessity to create conditions for the expansion of contacts, and above all – in the investment area; to invite the Swiss companies to business workshops; and to provide more information about the major potential projects of the city.
News Source: St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations