Basel

Basel (English traditionally: Basle {{IPA|}}, German: Basel {{IPA|}}, French Bâle {{IPA|}}, Italian Basilea {{IPA|}}) is Switzerland's third most populous city (188,000 inhabitants in the canton of Basel-City as of 2004; the 690,000 inhabitants in the conurbation stretching across the immediate cantonal and national boundaries made Basel Switzerland's second-largest urban area as of 2003).

Industry and trade

An annual Federal Swiss trade fair (Mustermesse) takes place in Kleinbasel on the right bank of the Rhine. Other important trade shows include "Basel" (watches and jewelry), Art, Orbit and Cultura.

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The Swiss chemical industry operates largely from Basel, with Novartis, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Clariant, and Hoffmann-La Roche headquartered there. Pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals have become the modern focus of the city's industrial production. Some of the chemical industry's most notable creations include DDT, Araldite and LSD.

Related Topics:
Novartis - Ciba Specialty Chemicals - Clariant - Hoffmann-La Roche - DDT - Araldite - LSD

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UBS AG maintains central offices in Basel, giving finance a pivotal role in the local economy. The importance of banking began when the Bank for International Settlements located within the city in 1930. Basel's innovative financial industry includes institutions like the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. Responsible for the Basel Accords, this organization fundamentally changed Risk Management within its industry.

Related Topics:
UBS AG - Bank for International Settlements - Basel Committee on Banking Supervision - Basel Accords - Risk Management

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Basel has Switzerland's tallest building, Basler Messeturm.

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