Jean-Daniel Pasche, Pierre Huguenin
and Jacques G. Duchêne
| | The economic situation, Swissness and Swiss made: the President of the FH takes stock at the General Meeting.
Held on 24 June at the NH Hotel in Fribourg, the FH General Meeting took place in a far more favourable economic environment than that which held sway last year. A welcome improvement which Jean-Daniel Pasche referred to at the start of his presidential address: «The situation has improved since the end of 2009. Watch exports resumed their upward trend during the first five months of the year. At the end of May, the increase was 15.8% by value and 19.2% by volume. Of course, not all indicators have yet turned to green and the situation differs according to several criteria. Firstly geography: the good results come mainly from Asia, while Europe and America still lag behind. Also the field of activity: not all subcontractors are yet experiencing the same recovery as manufacturers of finished products. Lastly stability: the recovery is in its early stages and not all foundations are yet securely in place. But the good news in this early part of the year is welcome nonetheless. It marks the beginning of a more favourable period and allows a return of confidence. We are optimistic for 2010, which once again will be a positive year.»
Another topic of concern for the industry which the FH president could not pass over in silence is Swiss made. Indeed the year 2009 saw spectacular progress on the Swissness front, with publication of the message by the Federal Council for consideration by the Federal Chambers in November. This means that the government, after analysing responses to its consultation, felt that it was necessary to pursue the project. It has now been brought before Parliament and work is in progress. It will be remembered that the Swissness project seeks to strengthen protection of the «Swiss» mark for all Swiss products and services. It introduces minimum value criteria which must be complied with, namely 60% for industrial products, and offers those sectors that so wish the possibility of supplementing these minimum conditions with stricter criteria as part of an industry-wide ordinance.
Since a number of erroneous remarks concerning the future of Swiss made have been circulating in recent months, Jean-Daniel Pasche made a point of clarifying certain issues: «First of all, the FH project, as adopted by the 2007 General Meeting, has not been rejected by the Federal Council. In fact, the latter has not yet examined it, preferring to bring the Swissness project to a conclusion before examining specific requests from industry. Secondly, Swissness is not an obstacle to the FH project. On the contrary, the two projects will complement one another to ensure protection for Swiss made timepieces.»
Regarding the purely statutory part of the meeting, delegates approved the 2009 annual report and accounts, and also the system of contributions for 2011, which remains unchanged. The meeting also reaffirmed its confidence in Fiduco, who were retained as auditors for a further year.
With regard to members, that fact that the economic situation has had no detrimental effects will be welcomed: indeed six new companies joined the association’s ranks last year, offsetting almost entirely the seven companies which stood down. At the end of 2009, the FH thus had 498 members, compared to 499 one year earlier. |
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