Aargau turns its back on the "Greater Zurich Area" marketing organization
The canton of Aargau is withdrawing from the «Greater Zurich Area» (GZA) regional marketing organization. The canton will end its trial membership as early as the end of October.
However, the GZA remains a possible option for the international location marketing of Aargau. But with the existing organization, orientation and financing of the GZA, no significant improvement in benefits could be achieved, the State Chancellery of Aargau announced on Friday. In May, the cantonal parliament decided at the request of the cantonal government that Aargau should continue its trial membership until the end of the year. Now the Grand Council has criticized the organization's modest cost-benefit ratio across all parties.
Aargau has been a trial member of the "Greater Zurich Area" for five years. During this time, only four companies with twelve jobs have settled in Aargau through the mediation of the GZA. A total credit of CHF 2.95 million previously approved by parliament had not yet been used up. There were still 250,000 francs in the coffers in May. For this reason, Aargau originally wanted to participate on a trial basis until the end of the year.
A GZA working group under the leadership of Government Councillor Urs Hofmann SP has developed measures to rectify the existing weaknesses over the past few months, according to a press release from the State Chancellery. The Board of Trustees had not generally questioned the need for organizational and financial action. However, the proposed changes were not supported. The Board of Trustees has initiated further clarifications. Therefore, the conditions for the Canton of Aargau to continue its membership beyond December 31, 2010 are currently not fulfilled. Under these circumstances, it would also make no sense to remain a member of the GZA in the coming months.
The canton wants to examine various options for international marketing itself. Cooperation with other location marketing organizations or the creation of a new organization in Northern Switzerland are conceivable. Service agreements with private service providers that have a broad network of internationally active agents in the target regions are also possible. However, future membership of the GZA remains an option, provided the necessary changes are implemented.
Aargau has been a trial member of the "Greater Zurich Area" for five years. During this time, only four companies with twelve jobs have settled in Aargau through the mediation of the GZA. A total credit of CHF 2.95 million previously approved by parliament had not yet been used up. There were still 250,000 francs in the coffers in May. For this reason, Aargau originally wanted to participate on a trial basis until the end of the year.
A GZA working group under the leadership of Government Councillor Urs Hofmann SP has developed measures to rectify the existing weaknesses over the past few months, according to a press release from the State Chancellery. The Board of Trustees had not generally questioned the need for organizational and financial action. However, the proposed changes were not supported. The Board of Trustees has initiated further clarifications. Therefore, the conditions for the Canton of Aargau to continue its membership beyond December 31, 2010 are currently not fulfilled. Under these circumstances, it would also make no sense to remain a member of the GZA in the coming months.
The canton wants to examine various options for international marketing itself. Cooperation with other location marketing organizations or the creation of a new organization in Northern Switzerland are conceivable. Service agreements with private service providers that have a broad network of internationally active agents in the target regions are also possible. However, future membership of the GZA remains an option, provided the necessary changes are implemented.
