The Swiss franc hits another record high; Switzerland drops in international corruption ranking; and more news in our roundup on Wednesday.
The Swiss franc hits another record high
Switzerland’s famously strong currency had already reached new highs against the euro and the dollar at the end of January.
This week began with the further decline in the dollar, while the franc made another historic leap against the euro.
On Monday, the dollar was trading at 0.7659 francs.
The franc has also appreciated significantly, with the euro-franc ratio standing at 0.9130, and even reaching a new all-time high by dropping to 0.9127 in the afternoon.
Switzerland loses ground in corruption ranking
In a new ranking, the country has fallen behind in terms of corruption in the public sector.
Transparency International has revealed that Switzerland dropped one place down, from fifth to sixth position in 2025 – on par with Sweden.
That’s because, according to the organisation, Switzerland’s existing anti-corruption measures are insufficient.
However, Switzerland is less corrupted and more transparent than its neighbours Germany (19th place), Austria (21st), France (27th), and Italy (57th).
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The volume of cross-border shopping continues to grow
Despite the government’s attempts to make shopping in neighbour countries less attractive by lowering the tax exemption from 300 to 150 francs, Swiss consumers continue to fill their shopping baskets abroad.
According to data from the Swiss Retail Federation and the BAK Economics Institute, shoppers from Switzerland spent 2.8 percent more in neighbour nations in 2025 than the previous year.
Not only are prices lower in these countries, but the growing strength of the franc against the euro also “increases the appeal of buying abroad,” BAK Institute reported.
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The future is now: Switzerland to train Artificial Intelligence specialists
These new professionals would address the growing importance of AI in Switzerland’s businesses.
The AI Business Specialist training program is a new higher vocational qualification at the tertiary level. Holders of this diploma are responsible for the systematic exploitation of AI’s potential, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) announced on Tuesday.
It further explained that these individuals are to be responsible for examining application possibilities and supporting AI-related projects throughout their entire lifecycle. This involves “optimising operational processes and continuously developing products and services,” all while ensuring that AI is used in a way that is “responsible, efficient, and compliant with economic, social, and ethical requirements.”
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
