New orders received by the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industries (MEM industries) increased by 9.6% year-on-year during the first half of 2016. By contrast, sales were down by 3.5% compared to the first half of last year, despite developing positively in the second quarter of 2016. Exports also started to turn around in the second quarter on the back of increasing demand from the EU and US markets. The mood among businesses is raising hopes for continued positive development in the second half of this year. However, this is conditional on reliable and supportive economic conditions. Swissmem is thus campaigning, among other things, in favour of maintaining the bilateral agreements with the EU, full association with «Horizon 2020» and adopting the “corporate tax reform III” package.
