Surrounded by euro-zone countries wrestling with the effects of debt, deflation and possible default, Switzerland's economy stands out as a continuing success story. Underpinned by the virtues of adaptability, foresight and financial prudence, alongside strong export performance in sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals and food to high-precision instruments, the overall prospects look bright. 

Swiss mountain slopes and alpine valleys have long held a special magic for skiers, climbers, hikers and winter-sports enthusiasts from around the world. Recent years have seen a steady rise in the number of health and wellness tourists who come in search of a contrasting type of holiday and a different range of attractions.

Switzerland is famous for the precision and craftsmanship that goes into top-quality timepieces. Less known is the fact that many of those skills and techniques are also being passed on to students in Hong Kong. 

When you think of Switzerland, mountains, chocolate and watches come to mind. Of course, we are proud of all these high-quality attractions. Yet, many readers might be surprised to see this small, landlocked country is also a significant innovator and producer of renowned branded products, such as in the watch industry, food products, herb-scented sweets, or highly specialised pharmaceutical products.

Horologists have more opportunities to get their wrists wrapped in some of the world's most exquisite collection of timepieces. Connecting generations of watch aficionados in Asia and worldwide, Excellence Holding offers Swiss heritage watches made with a century and a half of watchmaking passion. It also showcases an unparalleled selection of rare pieces and world-famous brands through its premium boutiques located in the world's top tourist destinations. 

Private equity (PE) funds hold much promise for Asia's institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals, whose appetite for overseas investing is often quelled by the adverse effects of market volatility. Swiss investment firm Private Equity Holding (PEH) is eyeing stronger partnerships with Asia's fund managers to translate this promise into consistent returns for the region's increasingly savvy investors. 

Asia's sophisticated woman seeks that perfect little black dress which stylishly transitions from a day at work to a night out for cocktails. For more than 90 years, luxury fashion house Akris has created a sleek and tangibly refined aesthetic patronised by eminent clients such as Princess Charlene of Monaco - securing its reputation as the quintessential designer brand for today's women of power and authority. 

With Asia evolving as a research and development hub of the global pharmaceutical industry, Solvias is advancing analytical services to help companies in the region gain better access to the highly regulated Western markets. 

Swiss ingenuity, coupled with a strong commitment to the well-being of people, makes IBSA Institut Biochimique a strong partner for Asian pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies looking for a global platform. A privately owned pharmaceutical company with a product range that covers seven therapeutic areas in more than 70 countries, IBSA discerns the needs of patients within each market to create top-notch and industrially viable medical solutions. 

Celebrating 30 years of providing top-notch kitchen preparation and presentation equipment to the world's highly rated hotels and restaurants, Swiss hospitality contractor Andy Mannhart is primed to take on Asia's booming hospitality industry. The company is a global one-stop shop for clients as diverse as five-star hotel chains and local boutique hotels, cruise lines, airline lounges and private hospitals. From Kyrgyzstan to Equatorial Guinea, more than 2,000 hotels and restaurants in over 80 countries rely on Andy Mannhart's know-how and equipment.

Acclaimed to be the world's centre of wealth management expertise, Switzerland is home to financial institutions of all sizes offering unparalleled advising quality. Banque Profil de Gestion, a boutique private bank based in Geneva, has made a solid imprint in this highly competitive marketplace with its service-oriented culture and key competency in capital markets.

With its global clients in the automotive, electronics, food, logistics, post and retail industries looking towards the robust economies of Asia, Georg Utz Holding has grown from a European player into a global and flexible partner of choice for multinational corporations. The Swiss provider of internationally certified sustainable packaging solutions has made sound investments to support its customers' Asian operations, beginning in China.

Nothing perks up a morning better than the aroma of freshly ground beans - a prelude to a good cup of coffee. For global coffee grinding solutions specialist Hemro Group, a great brew starts with the grinding. 

Connoisseurs recognise excellent Swiss quality chocolate from the moment they break a piece of chocolate bar. Smooth and crisp, good chocolate emits a full and rounded aroma, and once it meets the tongue, it immediately melts like butter. For almost 60 years, discerning chocolate gourmets and producers in Europe, Asia and the US have sought Chocolat Alprose for its fine and delicate chocolate creations.

For VIPs and VVIPs who put a premium on exclusivity and luxury when jetting to their next business pursuit, there has been no better time to fly - whether on their customised aircraft or a chartered flight. Private aviation has become safer and more convenient than ever, and it has paved the way for the ultimate home, office and infotainment hub in the sky.

With five times more components than formula milk, breast milk perfectly meets the nutritional requirements of babies. It contains stem cells and immune factors that reduce infections and help prevent obesity later in life. 

Located in the cradle of Switzerland's micromechanical technology in the Vallee de Joux, MEYLAN Freres produces the tiny parts used in fine Swiss watches. Founded by the father and uncle of the company's managing director, Christian Meylan, the company pioneered the use of electro-erosion, or cutting metal sheets with electricity. Today, MEYLAN Freres uses the same process with automated stamping to customise micromechanical parts for a growing number of industries that include aerospace, automotive, electronics and medical equipment.

Renowned for setting the global standard in kitchen and laundry appliances, V-ZUG is taking further initiatives to bring the best of Swiss innovation and creativity closer to Asia. 

As more Asian companies see the benefits of higher quality products, PLATIT - the world-leading provider of complete turnkey physical vapour deposition (PVD) coating systems - is gaining significant market share in the region. With the support of subsidiary PLATIT Advanced Coating Systems (Shanghai), Asia has become the Swiss company's second-largest market - topped only by Europe.

The same company supporting the precision machining of Switzerland's watchmaking industry is raising production efficiencies in China. While manufacturers rely on machine tools to fabricate metal parts for their products, LNS Group provides top-tier peripherals for such equipment to optimise performance, quality and reliability on the production floor.

Ranked among the world's largest financial centres and home to global multinational headquarters, Switzerland is gaining repute as an attractive frontier for Asian companies seeking European expansion. Amid a growing number of Chinese investors looking into Switzerland as a renminbi hub in central Europe, Swiss Prime Site (SPS) offers high-quality commercial and retail investment opportunities across the country's premier economic locations.

Weaving tradition and innovation on the loom of Swiss precision, TESTEX has spun a vibrant legacy of high-quality textile testing and certification spanning almost 170 years. With a long history intertwined with Switzerland's silk industry, the Zurich-based enterprise is a renowned leader in textile testing and certification not just in Europe, but globally. 

As the site for one of the world's first freeports for artwork storage and trading, Geneva is home to the best fine art logistics companies in the world. Natural Le Coultre stands out as it draws on more than 150 years of experience to provide a full suite of artwork-related services. Its offerings range from scientific analysis, restoration and storage to setting up exhibitions, financing and trading.

Asia's affluent, cultured consumers, looking for sophistication and elegance in undergarments, need look no further than Zimmerli of Switzerland. With more than 100 years of heritage in handcrafting the world's finest underwear using the highest-quality natural fibres, the brand is poised to share in China's growing luxury retail market. The company is eyeing to expand its 35 boutiques in the region to 150 over the next five years.

The store opening of Swiss watchmaker Hublot at the Tianyi International Shopping Center in Ningbo was a landmark event that sealed the brand's avant-garde character and remarkable growth in China. As one of the mainland's oldest trade cities, Ningbo symbolises the fusion between tradition and strong economic momentum. It draws numerous timepiece connoisseurs, most of whom are newly empowered young, middle-class consumers eager to buy the latest luxury goods.

Home to about 450 cheese varieties, the secret of Switzerland's renowned dairy products starts at the farm. Swiss cows feed only on fresh hay and grass, while the government bans artificial processes such as the use of hormones and genetically modified organisms. Leading dairy farm organisation Nordostmilch and its daughter company swissmooh embodied this commitment to quality when it entered China in 2012. Instead of using distributors, the company opted to open its own stores in Qingdao to ensure the mainland gets the same product quality as in Switzerland.

Global spending on medicines is forecast to rise at a compound annual growth rate of between 4 and 7 per cent over the 2014-2018 period, according to a recent report from the IMS Institute of Healthcare Informatics. The market's recovery is being driven by several factors, notably steady gains in highly specialised pharmaceuticals and improved accessibility for patients. Making a solid contribution to further advance the speciality pharmaceuticals market is TRB Chemedica International, a Geneva-based pharmaceutical group renowned for bringing Swiss quality to health care.

Surrounded by stunning vistas of majestic mountains, verdant trees and crystalline waters in the Upper Engadine valley, Suvretta House stands like a magnificent castle. Considered as one of Switzerland's grandest hotels, Suvretta House upholds the tradition of personal hospitality that has been its signature for more than a century.