Rudolf O. Schmid is the new President of Handel Schweiz

Rudolf O. Schmid was elected as the new President of Handel Schweiz by the General Assembly. He succeeds Jean-Marc Probst, whose great commitment to the concerns of Switzerland's largest private employer, which employs around 680,000 people and trains 38,000 apprentices, was appropriately acknowledged and thanked by the association.

Three focal points

Rudolf O. Schmid brings extensive experience in the trade as a long-standing Vice President of Handel Schweiz as well as an entrepreneur. Coming from the agricultural trade as a young trader, he was elected early on to the board of directors or the leading committee of Handel Schweiz. He sees three clear focal points in the further development of the umbrella organization, as he emphasizes: "Handel Schweiz is committed to the education of young traders, provides secretarial services for several trade associations and is committed to its approximately 4,000 members. Handel Schweiz represents their diverse interests, depending on the topic, also at the political level."

Trading companies are under even more pressure today than in the past, as Rudolf O. Schmid explains. The Ukraine war, as well as the economic situation, left clear traces in trade. As is well known, the interrupted supply chains for electronic components or building materials caused standstills in companies and industries. For example, cable harnesses were manufactured in Ukraine until recently. Their absence led to production stops in car factories. Winter tires are also in short supply. Those who have not yet bought any today should do so quickly. They are made with Russian coal dust.

Trade with new approaches in globalization

In order to better prepare for future developments, new approaches to global trade are needed. Rudolf O. Schmid advocates diversified supply chains: "Previous approaches to globalization have led to exaggerations. Producers and trading companies underestimated the supply risks. It has now become clear that single sourcing - making purchases in one place - is not a good solution. We say a clear yes to globalization. It is important for our prosperity. It also raises living standards in the third world. However, in global trade, companies must now weigh supply risks much more critically than before. Sourcing must not be dependent on one partner, one country or one continent. Such diversification of supply chains will significantly change global trade."

Source: Trade Switzerland