What are your views on the Canton’s near future? What challenges will Valais be facing? Valais is going to be facing important challenges in terms of development over the coming years, particularly in sectors such as energy, tourism and infrastructure.
Developing sources of renewable energy is a suitable challenge for Valais as the Canton is a pioneer in matters of green technology. Valais has been and will continue to be very active in improving its infrastructure’s eco energy (insulation, passive energy sources, “green” energy, etc.) and encouraging the rational use of energy through industrial eco-projects. Valais is betting on significantly improving its efficiency and industrial productivity by prioritising sustainable development while ensuring the environment’s high quality for future generations.
Another of the Canton’s major projects is modernising tourism facilities in order to respond to its clientele’s continually increasing demands. Politicians and players in the economic sector have joined forces to work towards defining the axes of strategic development which will allow Valais to carry on its tradition of excellence far into that future.
Infrastructure development is one of the areas that the Canton has undertaken to make Valais more accessible and overcome geographical issues. Opening the new Loetschberg Tunnel has made travelling between Valais and Germanspeaking Switzerland significantly easier, especially from Bern, Basel and Zurich.
Improvements to the existing axe linking Valais to Western Switzerland are in the planning stages and will serve to reduce the journey time from Geneva Airport as well as to enhance available services.
Negotiations with French partners have concentrated on a project linking the rail service between Valais and Geneva (CEVA) on the southern coast of Lake Geneva. Valais has not given up its long term plans for a railway tunnel under the mountains between Martigny and Aoste which would provide connecting services to Valais from the rail lines through Milan and Turin as well as Lyon. The A9 highway to Brig is expected to be completed for 2017–2018 and will represent an important improvement in terms of accessibility and services for the entire canton. Valais would also like to make better use of Martigny’s freight customs trans-shipment facility, which opens up interesting perspectives for developing the free circulation of merchandise on Europe’s North to South axis.
What steps is Valais taking to develop its economy? The canton’s government wants “a Valais that moves forward, a Valais that’s accessible”. Our legislative framework offers Valais numerous possibilities to enhance its economic position. Valais recently passed a new law on regional policy, which is principally geared towards improving the canton’s competitive edge and appeal in different geographical areas to generate added value as well as create and maintain jobs.
Therefore, Valais has invested in these activities on a massive scale for the past few years, particularly in the areas of life science, information and communication technology and engineering.
Valais Canton is a pioneer in terms of research and technological innovation. It organises and coordinates various activities which allow business to get established, grow (start-up), expand and flourish in Valais through its “The Ark” project. This techno-industrial park is unique in that it is spread over multiple sites (six technology hubs) and focused on the three above mentioned areas.
Some people even call Valais the Swiss California – albeit on a smaller scale – referring to Silicon Valley’s rapid technological development. In terms of economic matters, the Canton has always prioritised supporting and promoting its characteristically entrepreneurial spirit.
Are there any projects underway to develop and improve the quota of hotels in Valais? Yes, through new regional policies and due to extraordinary measures given the current financial climate. Projects for developing infrastructure are being analysed or underway in Valais, covering areas from sports to tourism and centres for technology. These aim to improve hotel availability by building new hotel facilities and residences for tourists and improve housing in existing establishments. Various projects are in the study and discussion stages.
Several housing projects for tourists have already been completed and two major construction sites for building hotel facilities have begun (Mer de Glace at Nendaz and Verbier’s Les 3 Rocs).
Russia’s Mirax investment group has proposed an ambitious project for Aminona, near Crans Montana, which is currently being analysed.
How would you describe the relationship between Valais and Russia, particularly in the economic sector? Our relationship is primarily centred around tourism as many Russian and ex-USSR nationals visit Valais’ most famous resorts – Zermatt, Leukerbad, Saas-Fee, Crans-Montana, Verbier, etc.
Russian clients require high-quality infrastructure and such services are available due to the established tradition of welcoming prestigious guests and royalty in these century-old destinations. Consequently, increasing numbers of Russian and ex-Soviet players have been active in Valais’ real estate market.
Russian investors and promoters see business opportunities here and are more and more active in our canton.
Finally, Valais hopes that Russian companies and businesses will move to our territory where they will be warmly welcomed, as was the case with the first of such companies which established its premises in 2008. Others will indubitably follow suit, given the Canton’s favourable conditions (qualified labour, tax incentives, available infrastructure, support and aid, etc.).
Do you have statistics on how many Russians reside in Valais? And the number of Russian tourists who come to the area? As of 2009, there were 194 Russian citizens residing in Valais, up from 119 in 2000. Russian tourists spent 73,000 nights in Valais’ hotels over 2008–09.
There are ever-increasing numbers of Russian tourists in Valais every year, even if they only account for an unwavering percentage of between 1.5% and 2.5% of the Canton’s total tourism market.
In addition to the nights spent in Valais’ hotels, approximately 43,000 nights were registered in chalets/apartments during the 2008–09 tourist seasons.
There’s been a lot of talk about Chinese students in hotel schools; do young Russians also frequent these establishments? The number of students from Russia and former Soviet states is constantly increasing. 75 of the 500 students attending the César Ritz Colleges Swizerland in International Hotel and Tourism Management at le Bouvret and Brig come from nations that were once part of the USSR. Furthermore, about 30 students from Diplomatic Academy Moscow attend the César Ritz University Centre’s summer course in Brig every year. Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Bluche currently has 45 Russians enrolled within a total student body of 1,120.
Private schools, such as l’Ecole Ardévaz for example, already have several Russian students. If Russian companies and investors in Valais generate the economic activity we hope to see, these numbers will obviously increase.
Therefore, we are working on maintaining and promoting the excellent reputation the Canton’s institutions enjoy.
Furthermore, several international school projects are underway and Valais could potentially offer opportunities for a complete, high standard educational network aimed at expatriates residing in Valais Canton.
Where do Russian tourists generally go? Which season do they prefer? Half the Russian tourists stay in Zermatt. The remaining half is generally divided between Leukerbad, Saas-Fee, Crans Montana and Verbier. Russian tourism in Valais is principally active during the winter season, as over 85% of the canton’s hotel registrations are recorded between November and April.
How can Valais reinforce its cooperation with Russia? Are there any joint projects or partnerships between Russian and companies in the canton? The Russian market is currently still very marginal. Valais’ exports to Russia are essentially rocks and minerals (ie: crystals) and vehicles, but on a very small scale. That’s why no programmes have been instigated or planned on an institutional level (government, Chamber of Commerce and industry).
In terms of tourism, a delegation from Valais, which included the head of the Canton’s Economic Development, journeyed to Moscow to promote the area in 2005. Valais’ External Promotion Manager (for drawing new businesses) has attended the Standortförderung Schweiz seminars in Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novogorod, Jekaterinenburg, Kazan, etc.) every year. He also represents Switzerland at official functions during these events as well as representing the Greater Geneva Bern Area (GGBa) in direct discussions.
REFERENCE: VALAIS CANTON AND ITS ECONOMY Aside from the primary sector, Valais is home to 15,520 companies as of 2008, with 80% of these principally active in the tertiary sector (services) and 20% in the secondary sector (industry, construction). There are an additional 4,328 companies or firms active in the primary sector (agriculture, wine production, etc.). 98% of these companies are medium to small sized businesses. Overall, the canton’s economy totalled 140,805 jobs in 2008, with 7.5% in the primary sector, 26.5% in the secondary sector and 66% in services. The principal areas of activity in Valais are as follows: the hotel and tourism sector (11.72%), health and social services (11.27%), retail businesses (10.19%) and construction (9.35%). In terms of GDP share, the most important areas are business services (16.13%), chemistry (9.86%), construction (7.5%), retail businesses (7.16%) and health/social services (6.92%). Valais also distinguishes itself by its low unemployment rate which nears the national average 3% to 4% over the past 10 years.
A foreigner can acquire a property in Valais without any particular permits when it serves as a principal residence or if said foreigner intends to use it to establish a business – be it professional, commercial, industrial or artisanal . The Cantonal Authority’s permission is mandatory for foreigners who don’t meet these basic requirements. For example, Valais Canton currently makes an allowance of 310 units per year for foreign nationals who are looking to buy a property as a secondary residence.
