About DIAS
DIAS (standing for "Direct Investment Advisory Services") is a Business Advisory and Management Training firm based in Baden, vicinity of Zurich, in Switzerland. The firm specializes in providing capacity building services, consultancy and guidance to Investment Promotion Agencies all over the World.
History of DIAS
DIAS was initially established by KPMG Switzerland for operating SOFI, the "Swiss Organisation for Facilitating Investments". SOFI was an initiative of SECO, the "State Secretariat for Economic Affairs" within the Swiss Ministry of Economy. SECO has awarded a management and service mandate to KPMG to operate SOFI. SOFI was founded in 1997 with the objective to promote direct investments of enterprises from Switzerland and other OECD countries to countries with economies under development or in transition. In this respect the firm has promoted investments in more than 80 countries and has supported thousands of enterprises developing their investment projects in these countries. Services provided were twofold a) Promotion of the idea of investment to specific countries though organization of conferences, seminars, business missions, and identification and dissemination of investment opportunities, and b) Assistance of individual enterprises with gathering and evaluating information on the business environment of investment target countries, partner search and assessment, business planning support, financial engineering and search of funds.
At the end of the 10 year SOFI program in 2007, the DIAS company, which was created by the sole objective of operating SOFI, was transferred from KPMG to the ownership of Managers (management buy-out) that have been responsible for the SOFI operations. In this respect DIAS continues to provide, on a commercial basis, services similar to those offered in the past by SOFI.
Key Services of DIAS
Investment promotion
DIAS is specializing in assisting governments and their investment promotion agencies to develop business co-operations in Switzerland and other countries on Central Europe; namely to attract direct investments from enterprises in the region. Particular services offered are:
- Development of concepts and strategies for investment promotion, including planning and execution of promotion events (conferences, seminars, missions, etc)
- Market to a targeted audience to attract Swiss and other investors
- Identification, mobilization and coaching of speakers
- Preparation of related promotion materials (invitations, brochures, handbooks)
- Organization of event-related logistics (conference rooms, technical equipment, catering, etc.)
- Run the event (register participants, prepare participation lists, provide reception personnel, etc.)
- Moderate the program
- Organize and moderate bilateral meetings between foreign delegates and Swiss participants
- Conduct follow-up with event participants
Education and re-training programs
DIAS in co-operation with the prominent "Napier University Business School" in Edinburgh, Scotland offers educational packages in the following fields:
- Best Practice Investment Promotion
- Regional Economic Planning and Finance
- Intercultural Business Negotiations
- Business Planning
- Financing Direct Investment Projects
- Strategic Decision Making
- Technology Transfer
- Tourism Investment Promotion
- Project Appraisal
For more information see www.dias-management.ch
