Australian Embassy
Germany
Germany

PR14022012


Australian Embassy Berlin, Public Affairs
Media Release - 14 February 2012
 


Appointment of Australian Honorary Consul in Zurich, Switzerland

The Australian Embassy in Berlin welcomes the appointment of Mr Alexander Kaiser as Australia’s Honorary Consul in Zurich, Switzerland.

Mr Kaiser is a Swiss citizen educated in Switzerland and Australia, with post-graduate degrees from Monash University and Deakin University. He has gained valuable experience working in the Swiss financial sector for more than a decade. The last eight years he worked in senior roles in different companies of Credit Suisse Group, where he currently is Head of Financial Management at Clariden Leu AG in Zurich.

Mr Kaiser has played an active role in building linkages between the Australian and Swiss business community and his experience in commercial matters means he is well placed to represent and further Australia’s interests in Swiss business and other sectors.

As Honorary Consul in Zurich, Mr Kaiser will also provide consular and passport assistance to Australian citizens in the region.

Australian Foreign Minister Rudd and his Swiss counterpart, Didier Burkhalter, recently met at the Davos World Economic Forum where they agreed to strengthen strategic dialogue between Australia and Switzerland, noting that there was much in the bilateral relationship to build on, including in the areas of financial services, investment, science and education.

In 2010-11, Switzerland was ranked as Australia’s 23rd largest merchandise trade relationship, worth A$2.9 billion, with the balance heavily in Switzerland’s favour. Two-way services trade amounted to around A$2.3 billion in 2010.

Switzerland is a significant investor in Australia, ranked as Australia’s fifth-largest source of foreign direct investment in 2010 (A$20.7 billion), with a total investment of A$40.7 billion. Australia’s total investment in Switzerland was A$19.7 billion, including A$7.4 billion foreign direct investment.

People-to-people links between Australia and Switzerland are significant, with 42,071 Swiss visitors to Australia in 2010-11 with an above average length of stay.

14 February 2012