12 June 2012. The Center pools the HSG’s Asia competence and paves the way into the emerging markets for small and medium-sized businesses of the Lake Constance region. In doing so, it has recourse to established networks of the University and Swiss organisations such as OSEC in Asia. The Center also positions Eastern Switzerland in Asia as a location for investments. The Asia Connect initiative is funded from resources of the Confederation’s new regional policy and by the cantons of the St.Gallen Lake Constance Area (Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, St.Gallen and Thurgau).

Opportunities outside the borders of Europe
More and more small and medium-sized enterprises are operating on a global scale. In the next 15 years, economic growth will predominantly take place is the emerging markets of Asia. Traditionally, Eastern Swiss trade and industry has been strongly concentrated on Germany and the Eurozone. The University of St.Gallen has established various networks in the emerging markets in the last few years and offers training for management and administration there. Small and medium-sized enterprises will now be able to profit from the HSG connections in Asia.

Roots in Switzerland, networks in Asia
Dr Roger Moser, an Appenzeller with St.Gallen roots, heads the new Center. He studied at the University of St.Gallen and has been greatly involved with Asian markets in the last few years. He and his family lived in China and India for several years. He set up various organisations there and explored various “business development in emerging market” approaches. As a visiting professor at business schools in India and China, the head of the Asia Connect Center has good academic and economic networks in both countries.

The Ministers of Economic Affairs Benedikt Würth (St.Gallen), Kaspar Schläpfer (Thurgau), Marianne Koller-Bohl (Appenzell Ausserrhoden) and Landammann Daniel Fässler (Appenzell Innerrhoden) signed the agreement with the University of St.Gallen for the Asia Connect Center on 11 June 2012 and handed it over to Prof. Dr. Ulrike Landfester, the HSG’s Vice-President for Internationalisation and Regional Relations. The official inauguration ceremony took place on the Executive Campus HSG.

Picture: Photocase / Step into Sun