GENEVA
The Groupement des Entreprises Multinationales (GEM) comprises 81 member companies that employ more than 30,000 people in the region. Responsible for more than 40% of GDP in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud, they account for one in three jobs and 75% of national investment in R&D. “Thanks to a diverse economy, with small and medium enterprises operating alongside multinationals, the region has developed a dynamic ecosystem. Each job within a multinational generates one-and-a-half jobs in the rest of the economy,” said Frédérique Reeb-Landry, GEM chair.
Reflecting this sentiment, Antonietta Frangi, chair of NODE (Nouvelle organisation des entrepreneurs), noted the interdependence between SMEs and multinationals: “Our businesses benefit every day from what multinationals and their employees bring. Tens of thousands of jobs depend directly on them.” GEM wants both local and foreign residents to better understand the role multinationals play in the Lake Geneva region. Although planned some months ago, the initiative is timely, now that the need for open EU immigration is being questioned by a narrow majority of Swiss.
Announcing the wide-ranging public information initiative, GEM deputy chairman Patrick Schriber said, “We want to open up to the public through open-door sessions to create a friendly platform for broadening discussion on topics that are important to us.” The initiative is organizing five evening events featuring key individuals from multinationals and members of the Council of State of Geneva from Monday 5 to Friday 9 May. The discussions, site visits and workshops will offer insight into different aspects of their members’ operations.
For further information: www.gemonline.ch