ZURICH: Swiss company that manufactures satellite parts, recently opened a new plant in Titusville. RUAG is teaming up with space technology firm OneWeb to build and launch 900 communications satellites, which will offer fast internet connections to rural communities across the globe. The project will generate more than 600 jobs along the Space Coast.
The satellite maker isn’t the only Swiss firm helping to grow Florida’s economy. Financial services giant Credit Suisse, food and beverage behemoth Nestlé, and watchmaker TAG Heuer have all brought their business to Florida. Ingenus, a Swiss pharmaceutical company that manufactures generic medicines, set up its corporate headquarters in Orlando. And Swiss biotech firm Novartis has several locations across the state.
Companies from the tiny alpine nation have quietly become some of Florida’s largest investors. And thanks to demographic shifts and tax reform, these foreign firms are poised to further expand their Sunshine State operations. That’s terrific news for job seekers in our state.
Swiss companies are some of the largest employers in the Sunshine State. These firms support almost 20,000 Florida jobs 7 percent of all jobs created by foreign investment. Florida’s exports to Switzerland support an additional 15,000 jobs. All told, the livelihoods of 35,000 Floridians are dependent on Swiss businesses and consumers.
