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The origins of SWISSFIRMS date back to 1976, when the first edition of the «Fichier industriel romand et tessinois (FIRTI)» was published in the form of six binders. While preparing this directory, the Chambers of Commerce of the French and Italian-speaking areas of Switzerland gained valuable experience in the handling and presentation of company information (addresses, information on company structures, etc.).
The Swiss Chambers of Commerce were quick to recognise the potential of an electronic version, which they began to publish via Videotex and Minitel as from 1990. The internet version was launched in the autumn of 1995.
For more than twenty years, FIRTI served as a valuable tool for the promotion of industrial companies in the French and Italian speaking areas. Over this period, the data base was continually extended until it contained not only the addresses of industrial companies but also information on all company members of the Swiss Chambers of Commerce, including those in the German-speaking areas. The name FIRTI was dropped in 1997.
The new database was given the name SWISSFIRMS. Its main objective was to improve the marketing of its services throughout the country, to the benefit of member companies of SWISSFIRMS and its shareholders.
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