The fighter jet is worthwhile-counter transactions for Switzerland?

8 billion Swiss francs to spend in Switzerland in the next ten years for new jets and a new ground-to-air missile System. The Federal Council wants it. Foreign manufacturers of these complex defense systems is waving a big business. But also the domestic industry hopes to have full order books. The Federal Council wants namely, that the 8 billion Swiss francs flow back Against business in Switzerland.

However, these Offset Deals are very controversial. Proponents point to the fact that they secure Jobs in Switzerland and a valuable transfer of knowledge for the local industry mean. Opponents criticize the lack of transparency, the corruption risk and cost more: the Need to place a fighter aircraft manufacturer orders in Switzerland, this means an additional expense, because he needs to find in domestic business partners, and the competition is not undermined, because foreign competitors are eligible. Both of these drives the cost of the arms deals. Oskar Schwenk, Chairman of the aircraft manufacturer, Pilatus, has calculated that the Offset award in the "Sunday view" of 15 to 20 percent. In Parliament, a hard controversy on this point is expected. Sceptical, the party of the Neo-Minister of defence Viola Amherd is in addition to the Left.

Amazing positive conclusion

Just in time for this debate, the University of St. Gallen, now, a new study of counter-transactions are created. Your findings are very positive. In the national industry, a broad consensus about the positive effects of Offset, it is written in a summary that was published by the Swiss society for technology and army. The costs of Offsets would amount, in Switzerland, on 2 to 5 percent.

Professor in St. Gallen: Thomas Friedli. Photo: PD

This expenditure would be additional income, argues the study. Thanks to additional jobs would arise in the case of domestic companies and their employees, new tax revenues. All in all, this additionally generated tax revenues to compensate for costs against transactions, "largely".

What is not shown in the summary of the study: The author is himself in five years, in the Pay of the Swiss armaments group Ruag . Thomas Friedli, Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for technology management at the University of St. Gallen, is a member of Ruag's Board of advisors. Its task is to advise Executive management and the Board of Directors prior to strategic decisions.

2500 Swiss francs per session

Professor Thomas Friedli wants to recognize in the delicate constellation, but no conflict of interest. The Ruag Advisory Board was "one of the Ruag independent body," as he tells on request. Moreover, Ruag was a mandate on the Homepage of the University of St. Gallen and his life runs transparently reported. It will be compensated for 7500 Swiss francs per year, for three to four sessions. The client of the study to the industry investments had been the club's Asipro, what is going to declared, so peaceful. The Asipro the object according to the register of companies, the promotion of Offset transactions for the Swiss industry. You should be with the results of Professor Thomas Friedli satisfied.

the Same applies to the Ruag. Ruag has a very real interest in ensuring that the next armor, an Offset purchases-mandatory. A survey of the Swiss Federal audit office (sfao) has resulted in 2007, the Ruag is the largest domestic profiteer of industrial investments. From 1995 to 2005, about 10 percent of the total Offset volume to be landed at Ruag, the EFK. It remains at this ratio, it is allowed to hope, Ruag at the time of renewal of the air defense on contracts in the amount of 800 million francs. This corresponds to group sales of almost half a year.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 06.02.2019, 11:03 PM