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Switzerland and the industrialisation of Japan: Swiss direct investments and technology transfers to Japan during the twentieth century

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  • Pierre-Yves Donze

Abstract

After the United States, Switzerland was one of the main sources of FDI to Japan in the twentieth century. Swiss multinationals that have invested there have three characteristics in common. First of all, they take a long-term perspective. The main companies present at the beginning of the twentieth century (Brown Boveri, Ciba, Nestle, Sandoz, Sulzer) were still some of the largest Swiss companies in Japan at the end of the century. Second, they gradually shifted from distribution to production during the inter-war period. Third, they backed Japan's industrialisation by strengthening historically underdeveloped sectors (chemicals) and by contributing to the growth of the manufacturing industry (machines).

Suggested Citation

  • Pierre-Yves Donze, 2010. "Switzerland and the industrialisation of Japan: Swiss direct investments and technology transfers to Japan during the twentieth century," Business History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(5), pages 713-736.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:bushst:v:52:y:2010:i:5:p:713-736
    DOI: 10.1080/00076791003763201
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paprzycki,Ralph & Fukao,Kyoji, 2012. "Foreign Direct Investment in Japan," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107411289.
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    Cited by:

    1. Teresa da Silva Lopes & Mark Casson & Geoffrey Jones, 2019. "Organizational innovation in the multinational enterprise: Internalization theory and business history," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(8), pages 1338-1358, October.
    2. Donze, Pierre-Yves, 2010. "Technological advantage and market loss: Siemens and the X-ray machine business in Japan (1900–1960)," MPRA Paper 23190, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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