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ECONOMIC POLICY
The increase in competition on a supranational scale and its corollary of constraints related to productivity profits have gradually brought about a thorough change in the economy of the Valais. The whole of the economic policy has been amended to make the region more attractive and to support investment and the creation of companies.


Although today tourism and, to a lesser extent, agriculture still seem two of the best-known activities of the region, services, industry and the craft industries contribute 76 % of the lo-cal GDP.

Diversification has in particular taken place in the living sciences and remote services.
“Our area is a chemical crucible”. “Biotechnology constitute a natural development. We made facilities available to companies to support their development such as the very developed spirit of partnership with the Lausanne Institute of Advanced Technology or the efforts made in favour of the Sion Institute for initial training. It is also natural that the BioArk site, a technological centre devoted to the life sciences in Monthey become a centre of many skills that will eventually transform ideas into commercial and industrial realities."

Excellgene is a company that has just been established in Monthey and it is aiming to create an estimated potential of 500 jobs within five years.

The computer and communication sciences have the same prospects and will help make Valais a multiple-domain and multiple-site technological region perfectly adapted to the various training skills available.

This dynamisation of the regional economy has been greatly helped by the adoption and application of new economic-promotion legislation which in particular creates a single mar-ket for investors. Jean-Daniel Papilloud, General Manager of the Valais Cantonal Bank adds that "It is also our role to encourage the creation of simplified and flexible processes adapted to supporting the establishment of new companies.” As someone who is particu-larly well-placed to observe all of the changes taking place in the canton, he stresses the proper development of his bank. "Our role is to accommodate investors and to assist them in all the steps they take and in their research. This accessibility for all also forms part of our quality of life.”

But the traditional economy has not, for all that, been forsaken. There are currently groups that should be transforming Sion airport into a true regional hub to serve businessmen and the tourist trade that is steadily developing to an all-year-round activity, from Winter to Spring and from Summer to Autumn. Then there is agriculture with its strong point – the vineyard and traditional products many of which are becoming registered trade marks (ra-clette, dried meat, apricots, etc.). There is a slight tendency to concentrate in the area of wine where there are today nearly 740 owners on the slopes along the 30 kilometres which border the road between Martigny and Sierre!

"There are small producers on the market who are looking to associate with others or who wish to sell off their assets." Wine-lovers, take note, you should reckon on approximately 500,000 Swiss francs (€ 300,000) if you hope to become the owner of a vineyard and find a good reason to discover the art of living in Valais.