International integration
As the Swiss domestic market is small and the country is lacking in natural resources, Swiss companies have been forced to seek and cultivate abroad what are often their key markets since the advent of industrial production. Approximately half of Switzerland’s GDP is generated from the export of goods and services. As a result, the country has become an important player in world trade. It is also among the leading exporting countries in terms of exported goods and services per capita.
Trade balance as a percentage of GDP (2007)
Source: 2009 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook