In the first eight months of 2022, Hilti has increased sales by 6 percent year on year to more than 4 billion Swiss francs. However, the operating result and net income were well down on the prior year. This development can be explained by increased costs and investments in the software business.

Hilti has created safe, affordable houses for 6,000 low-income individuals in the Global South with its innovative cement and bamboo frame technology. Additionally, the environmental impact of these houses is less than half that of conventional buildings.

Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) has launched its wiLLBe app for sustainable financial investments in Germany as well. It has already been available in Switzerland and Liechtenstein since July. The app also allows private individuals to make smaller investments geared towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Fuchs Richter Prüfinstanz, a German company that reviews private banks, has assigned the highest ranking from a total of five levels to LGT Bank in the area of sustainable investing. The bank owned by the Princely Family of Liechtenstein occupies second place in the overall ranking with 92 out of 100 points. In total, 25 banks in German-speaking countries were reviewed.

Hilcona spent more than 3 million Swiss francs upgrading its production facilities. The food producer plans to expand its offering of vegan and vegetarian meat and fish alternatives and strengthen its market position with a new wet extrusion line.

Liechtenstein employers were awarded above-average scores across all categories of recruiting. According to the Best Recruiters Study 2021/22, they improved their overall score from 58 to 62 percent of the potential points on offer. However, information on hybrid working patterns was deemed to be lacking.

LGT increased its group profit by 20 percent to 217 million Swiss francs in the first six months of 2022. Transaction-related revenues and services as well as interest-related income contributed significantly to the jump in profit. The banking group also saw strong net asset inflows.

In the first half of 2022, the LLB Group increased its group net profit despite contraction in the business volume. Group net profit rose by 6.8 per cent over the previous year to just under 76 million Swiss francs. Net new money inflow amounted to 2.5 billion francs.

The countries and cantons that participate in the International Lake Constance Conference are continuing to support cross-border exchange and encounter-related projects. Applications for the period running from 2022 through to 2028 can now be submitted.

The University of Zurich and University of Liechtenstein are to implement their agreement on a cooperation in the field of law from the forthcoming winter semester. The exchange of modules is an important step on the way to the planned joint Master’s program

The Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) has launched two funds focusing on climate protection. The new Impact funds round of the bank’s range of products in the sustainable investments segment. LLB’s investment advice and asset management offering is completely geared towards sustainability.

The “Economic and financial data on Liechtenstein” brochure provides an overview of the country’s economic development. Since 1972, the economic output of the country has increased almost fivefold. Private household income per capita in Liechtenstein is top of all EU/EFTA countries.

INFICON increased sales in the first half of 2022 by 11.7 percent to 278 million US dollars. The global measurement technology firm, which operates a location in Balzers, recorded a profit margin on a par with the previous year. INFICON expects to register further growth across the full year 2022.

Pavel Laskov from the University of Liechtenstein has been named as the winner of the Test of Time Award by the International Conference on Machine Learning. He and his two co-authors were recognized for their paper that focused on manipulated data techniques versus algorithms.

Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) is launching the wiLLBe app, a purely digital asset management solution for sustainable investing. From as little as 2,000 Swiss francs, the app can be used to make investments in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Principality of Liechtenstein is interested in taking part in the Digital Europe Programme and establishing a European Digital Innovation Hub. The focus now turns to forming a consortium to support the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and public administration bodies. Applications can be submitted up to October 31.

The Liechtenstein government has advocated joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Membership of the organization would primarily be intended to provide security in times of crisis. Other benefits include targets for trade growth and exchange rate stability that tie in nicely with Liechtenstein’s economic ambitions.

The rating agency Standard & Poor's continues to assess Liechtenstein’s banking sector as resistant to crisis. The efficient political system is said to be in a position to rapidly adapt to external political challenges.

Leonteq has introduced a new standardized issuance model for private, business and retail banks and launched the first structured products with VP Bank as a sponsor. The independent enterprise structuringHUB SA was established in Luxembourg for this.

ArtMeta, the metaverse for art based in the Greater Zurich Area, has entered into a partnership with VP Bank from Liechtenstein. This will facilitate art tokenization services. As such, shares of physical artworks can be purchased, tracked and traded on the blockchain.