mocratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or
UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president];
and other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,
Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,
FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG,
UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Alfred DEFAGO

chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900

FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, and San Francisco

consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
J. Richard FREDERICKS

embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3001 Bern

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [41] (31) 357 70 11

FAX: [41] (31) 357 73 44

Flag description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in
the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Switzerland Economy

Economy - overview: Switzerland, a prosperous and stable modern
market economy with a per capita GDP 20% above that of the big
western European economies, experienced solid growth of 3% in 2000,
but growth is expected to fall back to about 2% in 2001. The Swiss
in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into
conformity with the EU's to enhance their international
competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU
membership in the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed
agreements to further liberalize trade ties, and the agreements
should come into force in 2001. Switzerland is still considered a
safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank
secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $207 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $28,600 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.8%

industry: 31.1%

services: 66.1% (199