Schwyz, 12 May 2017 – Ambassadors of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) accredited to Switzerland visited on Friday the iconic Swiss company Victorinox. The visit was upon the invitation of Mr. Carl Elsener, Jr, Chief Executive Officer of Victorinox, and an initiative under the Philippine coordinatorship of ASEAN.
Photo (L-R): Philippine Ambassador Joselito A. Jimeno, Victorinox CEO Carl Elsener, Jr., Thai Ambassador Kittiphong Na Ranong,
Indonesian Ambassador Linggawaty Hakim, Lao Ambassador Kham-Inh Khitchdeth, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Hai Bang
Mr. Elsener and Victorinox’s Marketing Officer, Mr. Urs Wyss, welcomed the ASEAN group to the company’s headquarters in Ibach in canton Schwyz, and conducted an exclusive tour of the Victorinox factory where the ASEAN group was treated to the production of the iconic Swiss knives and fine cutlery.
The tour was followed by a briefing by Mr. Elsener on the company’s fascinating history, its corporate culture and the development of the iconic Victorinox’ Swiss knives and the company’s other products.
During the succeeding discussions with the company’s officials, Ambassador Jimeno inquired about the implementation of the apprenticeship program at the company.
The officials informed the Ambassador that Victorinox takes in ten (10) trainees every year for a four-year period, during which time trainees get to hone their skills, depending on the areas/skills the company needs while receiving their salary and enabling them to acquire higher skills that will help them increase their employability at the end of their apprenticeship with the company.
Photo: Ambassador Jimeno receives a Victorinox souvenir from CEO Carl Elsener, Jr.
The ASEAN group was also treated to a visit of the Swiss Knife Valley Visitor’s Center which houses a museum containing various kinds of Swiss knives that the company has produced through time, and to a video showing the milestones in the history of the knife factory.
Victorinox is the manufacturer of the well-known Swiss Army knives. Founded in 1884, the company derived its name from “Victoria”, the name of the mother of its founder, Karl Elsener, and “inox” (stainless steel).
Since the company’s acquisition of its rival Wenger in 2005, Victorinox has become the sole supplier of multi-purpose knives to the Swiss army.
It is the biggest manufacturer of pocket knives in the world with a daily production of 60,000 Swiss Army knives and other pocket knives. Apart from knives, Victorinox also produces watches, fine cutlery, apparel and travel gears.
The visit of the ASEAN group to Victorinox was arranged through Ms. Theresita Gauckler and Andreas Schaub of the Gauckler Travel Agency. END
