Working in Switzerland? A service to help border businesses

 Switzerland is ‘tempting’ Italian entrepreneurs. And not just those who are looking for a new homeland for their business, but also those who want to exploit working opportunities, both temporary and long-term ones, across the border. But what does a business from Varese need to work in the Ticino area? Which fulfillments are required and which authorizations are needed? Such operative questions are answered by operators of the new counselling service launched in Baveno and Chiasso. The opening of these two desks is part of the activities of the project ‘Pi.Lo.Ti. – Piemonte Lombardia Ticino in rete’, financed according to the programme of collaboration between Italy and Switzerland (previously called ‘Interreg’) and the Chamber of Commerce of the Verbanio Cusio Ossola region, the key player on the part of Italy. The partners in the project are the Tecnoparco del Lago Maggiore S.p.A. and the Chamber of Commerce in Varese.

“The service,” explain the supervisors of the help desk in Chiasso, “is for the Italian businesses that want to work in Switzerland and, vice versa, to the Swiss ones which want to work in Italy. The entrepreneurs can ask for clarification, but also for practical information about bureaucratic commitments and about the in-force regulatory framework. We have already received some requests from businesses which are interested in it.” The project has the goal of facilitating the inception of a formal network among entrepreneurs, professional and self-employed workers in the cross-border area, with particular attention to the energy, wood manufacturing, mechanical engineering and logistics sectors.

The help desks are active in the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce in Verbano Cusio Ossola (mail: piloti@vb.camcom.it, and they will answer by 24 hours, from Monday to Friday; telephone number: 335 6020431; Mr. Giovanni Moretti on Tuesday and Wednesday 09.00 am – 12.00 am; by appointment), and in the offices of Chiasso municipality for the services of information and support to the development of the network of cross-border workers (help desk: Tuesday and Wednesday 09.00 am – 11.30 am; telephone number   +41 (0) 916958574; Monica Bucchini on Monday, Thursday and Friday 08.30 – 11.30; e-mail: monica@piffaretti-olivieri.ch).