Baselland Business 2/2023 English

Baselland Business "Location factors determine success" Christoph Buser, Director of the Baselland Chamber of Commerce The waiting time is over: after a four-year hiatus, Business Day is back. Finally. A lot has happened since the last issue in fall 2019. Behind us lie difficult and challenging years. Keyword pandemic. It was a challenge for all of us. Especially for SMEs as well. Many small and medium-sized enterprises had existential fears. Some unfortunately disappeared. But larger companies also had to fight hard: production losses, interrupted supply chains, shutdowns, to name just a few examples. So, it is all the more pleasing that today, four years after the last economic day, we can see that the situation has calmed down again economically. On the other hand, we have had to live with the Ukraine war for the past year and a half and, unfortunately, recently also with the unrest in the Middle East. Nevertheless, from an economic point of view, we are no longer just reacting, but can once again envisage medium-term plans. This very important circumstance is taken up by the motto of the Business Day: "Back on track for success". I am very much looking forward to this year's edition, which is packed with many highlights. We have lined up a top-class program. Our renowned guest speakers Jan-Egbert Sturm (skilled workers and labor market), Beatrice Weder Di Mauro (economic factors) and Cornelia Meyer (energy) will provide classifications of important location factors. In the short or long term, these will determine how successfully the Basel area can hold its own in national and international competition. For example, the expansion of the transport infrastructure, which has fallen (too) far behind, is increasingly becoming a problem for the economy. Conspicuously more companies complain about negative effects on their business in this regard. In order for us to continue to play in the top league, we need the good framework conditions that are so often claimed by politicians. Today even more than in the past. After all, economic success doesn't just fall from the sky. We have to do something to make it happen. I was pleased to see that the bourgeois parties emerged stronger from the national elections on October 22, and I feel positive about this. More liberal economic forces are needed in our country's political power centers to ensure a good political framework. That's why I'm all the more pleased that Federal Councillor Albert Rösti, the head of DETEC, has agreed to honor us at the Business Day and will report first-hand on the infrastructural challenges facing our country. But there are also challenges for the companies. The most troublesome are the dried-up labor market, the increasingly impaired mobility and the uncertain energy supply. These are factors that weaken business development. We need to get back on track here. Where else are entrepreneurs feeling the pinch? Are they satisfied with the Basel region as a location? What is the fiscal burden like? How can they pass on higher production costs? Do they have problems with the interest rate environment? I could easily expand the questionnaire here. We regularly take the pulse during my company visits to the 100 largest manufacturing companies in the Basel region. The feedback varies depending on the industry, but tends to be "cautiously positive". You can get a 1:1 insight on Business Day, where we have planned a talk with five CEO's who run important companies in the Basel region and all belong to "Baselland Business". "Baselland Business" is - as you surely know - an initiative of the Baselland Economic Chamber and aims to be very close to the pulse of the 100 largest producing companies in the canton. The five CEO's will give a direct and unvarnished picture of the current situation in their industry and will certainly also express their wishes and de- 4 Baselland Business

"I am very much looking forward to this year's edition, which is packed with many highlights. We have lined up a top-class program" Christoph Buser, Director of the Baselland Chamber of Commerce mands to politicians. In addition, you will find company portraits of Getec, Alltech Installations, Agrano AG, Felix Transport AG and Dero Feinmechanik in this magazine. And last but not least, on Business Day, Baselland Economic Chamber President Roman Mayer will also provide a brief insight into the logistics sector, one of the most important pillars of our economic region. But the Day of Business also offers other program highlights: We will honor the winners of the Swiss Innovation Challenge. More than 100 companies took part in the competition - and three of them ultimately won over the jury with their business ideas. Of course, you will also be able to convince yourself at the VIP Networking Dinner - namely of the many creations of three outstanding top caterers. So, you can look forward to a whole host of highlights. And as you would expect, I also have a surprise in store for you. But more about that at the end of the official part on November 23. After all, anticipation is the best joy. So come on by, I'm looking forward to seeing you. And now I wish you an exciting time reading. Baselland Business 5