Are there any similarities between Switzerland and Russia? There are similar underlying feelings such as patriotic pride, a dislike of interference from other countries, the desire both to be and to make one-self respected, and even a feeling of ill-treatment and disrespect at the hands of the international community. These are the similarities that I noticed, and both countries are unaware of the extent to which they are alike.
You are the founder of the working group for direct democracy. How does the current political situation in Russia appeal to you? I would need to write a book to answer that question properly. Democracy and human rights are new concepts for Russia, which has been run in a very centralised and authoritarian fashion over the past five hundred years. It is always very difficult and demanding in the beginning.
It is not easy to understand all the holdups caused by those at the heart of the collective learning process, but there are many people who are determined to see it through to the end. It is our duty to support and encourage them.
Is Switzerland doing enough to promote trade with Russia? Russia is so rich that I have to be careful not to speak in terms of what is enough. As for the Swiss economy, especially the larger companies, their expertise is such that they rarely need encouragement fromthe state, but I’mnot qualified to say where the limits are. After all, as far as commercial relations are concerned, SMEs can count on official organisations in Switzerland to protect their interests and to help them develop in highly specialised domains.
In which sectors could Russia and Switzerland work together? The Swiss economy has extensive knowhow in the ecological transformation of businesses, in the zoning of land so as to respect the demands of nature, and in the organisation of businesses so that they can run efficiently, while at the same time meeting the demands of employers. The Swiss economy could help its Russian counterpart to satisfy these needs.
In your opinion, which sectors are most promising for someone looking to set up a business in Russia? All sectors with access to the natural resources required in production have huge potential in Russia. In fact, there are few countries with as much natural wealth, and this is not just the case in the energy sector.
With what impressions did your visit to Rusal leave you? Not only is the aluminium business the largest in Russia, it also figures among the largest in the world. Obviously I was struck by its size and by its importance to the locals. What struck me the most however, was the desire of the new boss to transform the old factory into a business that would meet the ecological needs of both the workers and the environment.
When I visited Rusal’s large hydroelectric dam, which provides the huge amounts of electricity needed to produce aluminium, I was reminded of the Grande Dixence dam in the canton of Valais.
Do you think that Switzerland and Russia could work together in the production of aluminium? I’m not an expert in the domain, but I thought of contacting the trade unions in Gampel and the relevant authorities in Valais, in order to obtain some information and to help establish contacts that would enable the evaluation of a possible collaboration with Russia, especially since Alusuisse and Alcan are seeking to withdraw from the aluminium sector in Upper Valais.
What was the nature of your visit to Russia? The trip was semi-official, semi-private.
My colleague Konstantin Kosachev of the Duma, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, wanted to show me a region that is less problematic than Chechnya, which I visit regularly. I opted for the great outdoors, deep Russia, and my colleagues were kind enough to integrate the visit to Rusal into the trip to wild and deserted Siberia.
Was this your first visit to Russia? No, throughout the course of the past ten years I visited the Russian Federation on more than ten occasions.
For the most part I visited Moscow and St. Petersburg, but I also observed the elections in the lake region, north of St Petersburg and in Ufa, in the South of the Ural region. I also went on four missions to Chechnya.
So, you know the country very well then? I don’t think anyone can claim to know this unimaginably large country. Even my colleague Kosachev found himself for the first time in the historic centre of his own country, a four hour flight to the north-east of Krasnoyarsk, being approximately six thousand kilometers to the east of Moscow.
Finally, can you tell us a little about your working group for direct democracy and the projects in which you are currently engaged? Democracy is a very fragile treasure. In order to protect it, itmust be established on trans-national, European, and global levels. It’s the big challenge of our time for which I work and commitmyself. If we do not succeed in doing this, freedomwill become the prerogative of the privileged, those withmoney. That would constitute a regression, which would bring us back to before the French revolution. u
Business aviation has been enjoying increasing success for many years now.This success has been witnessed particularly in Switzerland where TAG Aviation is one of the leaders in the sector. The following portrait depicts a highlyreputed company that has fostered many important links with Russia. Who hasn’t dreamed of flitting between the four corners of the earth on a magic carpet in the twinkling of an eye? With TAG Aviation, this childhood dream has become a reality. However, one small difference remains. Instead of struggling with a carpet, you can enjoy the comfort of an airplane and be pampered by attentive cabin crew. TAG Aviation, which stands for avant-garde technology, was founded in Geneva in the 1960s and is a pioneer of business aviation, an increasingly attractive market. Its clients are businessmen and companies whose prime concerns are time-saving, flexibility and comfort, elements which other standard companies cannot offer.
Standard or Charter Flights Choosing business aviation allows demanding schedules to be met. With no other airline can a client leave Moscow in the morning, attend three appointments in Paris, London and Berlin in the afternoon, and return home the same evening. Additionally, with this option, waiting in check-in areas and at boarding gates becomes nothing but a distant memory, as do those endless treks from one terminal to another. Gate searches can also be eliminated, as maximum security is assured with the number of passengers being restricted to the client and his entourage. In-flight comfort is another major consideration of business aviation and is determined by the individually preferred airplane and in-flight service of each client. In short, business aviation strives to provide a personalised service, adaptable to the client’s specific wishes. Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, Gianfranco Wernli explains, “There is no comparison between commercial flights and the service that we offer, for the simple reason that our clients call on us in a bid to avoid the restraints of regular flights”.
A Long History with Russia The tailor-made flights offered by TAG Aviation attract clients who are main players on the global economic stage.
Therefore, it goes without saying that the company is already familiar with the Russian market, even to the extent that many staff members are Russian-speaking.
However, the relationship between TAG Aviation and the country, where the rouble rolls, runs deeper still.
Thirty years ago, the company was the first airline to offer charter flights to and from Russia. Gianfranco Wernli expresses, “Since then we have fostered a special relationship with Russian clientele, who are, by nature, very demanding and appreciate our sincerity and professionalism.”
Flying in the Lap of Luxury Business aviation remains a sector reserved exclusively for the wealthy.
Indeed, using TAG Aviation’s services will cost a minimum 4,800 CHF (3,036EUR) per hour of flight, if flying with a Citation XL or a Learjet 45.
However, if the client opts for a Global Express jet, this price may glide to 10,200 CHF (6,451EUR) per hour. The good news is that the recent soar in oil prices will not constitute a soar in TAG Aviation’s tariffs. Gianfranco Wernli reassures, “Of course, we will have to make some changes in view of the fluctuations in oil prices, but compared to commercial companies, these fluctuations have had only a minor impact on our tarifs.” Despite the fact that its services are exclusively aimed towards the financial elite, TAG Aviation is all the more attractive, due to its ability to adapt to an era marked by an ever increasing need to be on the move. As a result, the company is currently operating over 200 private jets and has no plans of stopping there.
