Swiss School for International Business

What Swiss School for International Business does

Swiss School for International Business AG (SSIB) is a private Swiss professional education institution founded in 1983 and headquartered in Zürich, operating as the designated "school of the Swiss Chambers of Commerce." It delivers practice-oriented training in international trade — customs, export controls, Incoterms, VAT, sanctions, freight forwarding, supply chain management, and preferential origin — through a structured three-tier credential pathway: the SIHK Diploma (Sachbearbeiter/-in Import/Export, a 6-day program), the Swiss Federal Certificate (eidg. Fachausweis, Aussenhandelsfachmann/-frau with BP), and the Swiss Federal Diploma (eidg. Diplom, Aussenhandelsleiter/-in with HFP). These core programs are complemented by crash courses (2.5 days), à-la-carte seminars and workshops (half-day and full-day), an annual Aussenhandels-Fachtagung industry conference, and customized Exportberatung & Inhouse-Schulungen corporate engagements.

SSIB's delivery model is hybrid: in-person training at seven Swiss city locations (Zürich, Bern, Basel, St. Gallen, Luzern, Lugano, Aarau) operating in cooperation with regional Chambers of Commerce, combined with a modern video conference system enabling real-time remote attendance and access to recorded sessions for pre- and post-class preparation. Pricing is published per program, ranging from CHF 290 for half-day seminars to CHF 3,900 for the full Sachbearbeiter diploma, with member discounts for Handelskammer and S-GE members, early-bird rates, installment plans, and eligibility for up to 50% Swiss government reimbursement tied to completion of federal exams within five years.

The school is owned by a consortium of regional Chambers of Commerce (Bern, St. Gallen-Appenzell, beider Basel, Zentralschweiz IHZ, and Ticino), which simultaneously act as referral and implementation partners. Commercial partners include Platinum partnerships with Deloitte (customs/global trade expertise) and AEB (customs software, including Passar transition content), plus a Premium partnership with DSV for logistics/shipping content. The customer base is horizontal, serving individual professionals across import/export, logistics, trade compliance, and corporate training departments in Switzerland. As of early 2026, the company is undergoing a headquarters relocation (effective August 1, 2026, from Zurich Airport to Zurich Main Station in cooperation with Juventus Schulen) and a Board chairmanship transition, but remains privately held under Chamber ownership with no public listings or venture capital.

Name

Swiss School for International Business

Legal name

SSIB Swiss School for International Business AG

Website

https://ssib.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Swiss School for International Business (SSIB) is a Zürich-based private professional education institution, owned by Swiss Chambers of Commerce, offering federally-recognized diploma, certificate, and seminar programs in foreign trade, customs, and logistics for Swiss import/export professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Trade Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Compliance (Import/Export Controls, Customs) (EDABADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Short-Term Certificate & Micro-Credential Programs (International) (EDAIAIAI)

Keywords

• Foreign trade education
• Customs training programs
• Import export certification
• International trade diplomas
• Supply chain training

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Education Programs: Revenue from comprehensive diploma programs including Sachbearbeiter/-in Import/Export (SIHK Diploma), Aussenhandelsfachmann/-frau (Swiss Federal Certificate), and Aussenhandelsleiter/-in (Swiss Federal Diploma). Programs include 6-day courses, multi-month certifications, and exam preparation.
2. Seminars and Workshops: Individual seminar and workshop fees ranging from CHF 290 to CHF 650 per seminar, covering topics like customs, Incoterms, export control, tariffs, supply chain management, and international trade compliance.
3. Export Consulting and In-house Training: Customized in-house training programs and export consulting services for company-specific needs in areas including customs, VAT, sanctions, Incoterms, transport insurance, and freight law.
4. Crash Course Programs: 2.5-day compact crash courses for quick entry into import/export topics, priced at CHF 1,690 (CHF 1,490 for chamber members).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SSIB delivers practice-oriented foreign trade education across a three-tier diploma pathway (SIHK Diploma, Swiss Federal Certificate BP, Swiss Federal Diploma HFP), supplemented by intensive crash courses, specialized seminars on customs/Incoterms/VAT/export controls, customized in-house corporate training, export consulting, and an annual industry conference. Instruction is delivered through a hybrid model combining in-person classes at Swiss Chamber of Commerce locations with live video conference participation and recorded session access.

Product overview

SSIB (Swiss School for International Business) operates as Switzerland's leading educational institution for foreign trade (Aussenhandel) training, offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs including foundational SIHK diploma courses, federal professional certifications (Aussenhandelsfachmann/-frau with BP), and advanced federal diplomas (Aussenhandelsleiter/-in with HFP). The product portfolio is structured as a career pathway: the Sachbearbeiter/-in Import/Export program provides entry-level training for the SIHK diploma, the Aussenhandelsfachmann/-frau represents the mid-tier federal certification for experienced practitioners, and the Aussenhandelsleiter/-in delivers the highest federal diploma for senior management. Supporting these core programs are intensive crash courses, specialized seminars and workshops on customs, VAT, Incoterms, sanctions, and supply chain management, plus annual professional conferences and customized in-house training services. The institution is owned by Swiss Chambers of Commerce and Industry and maintains multiple locations across Switzerland with hybrid (in-person and online) delivery options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sachbearbeiter/-in Import/Export (SIHK-Diplom) A 6-day (or 12 evening) foundational program preparing participants for the SIHK (Swiss Industry and Commerce Chambers) diploma examination. Covers international trade clauses, customs, distribution forms, shipping, origin rules, VAT, and supply chain management. Designed as the entry-level certification for import/export operations personnel.
• Aussenhandelsfachmann/-frau (eidg. Fachausweis BP) Mid-tier Swiss federal certification program preparing participants for the Berufsprüfung (BP) federal examination to become a Foreign Trade Specialist (Aussenhandelsfachmann/-frau). Provides comprehensive expertise across the breadth of foreign trade topics with federal recognition for career advancement.
• Aussenhandelsleiter/-in (HFP) The highest-level Swiss federal diploma program (Höhere Fachprüfung, HFP) in foreign trade management. Designed to prepare senior practitioners for leadership and management roles in international business operations across diverse industries.
• Crash-Kurs Import/Export für Einsteiger/-innen A compact 2.5-day intensive introductory course covering Incoterms, transport insurance, payment security, customs procedures, and origin rules, leading to SIHK certification. Priced at CHF 1,490 for Chamber members and CHF 1,690 for non-members. Delivered in hybrid format at Zurich Airport or online via video conference.
• Seminare & Workshops (Import/Export) Specialized half-day (CHF 290/350) and full-day (CHF 550/650) seminars covering customs, VAT, Incoterms, transport insurance, freight forwarding, export controls, sanctions, tariff classification, supply chain management, Passar (new Swiss customs system), and air/sea freight operations. Member and non-member pricing with hybrid attendance.
• Exportberatung & Inhouse-Schulungen Customized in-house training programs and export consulting services tailored to specific company needs. Topics include customs, VAT, sanctions, Incoterms, transport insurance, freight law, and air/sea freight operations. Designed for companies training multiple employees or addressing company-specific trade issues.
• Aussenhandels-Fachtagung (Annual Foreign Trade Conference) Annual professional industry conference on foreign trade topics featuring expert presentations on customs updates, EU relations, export controls, tariff classification, sanctions policy, US tariffs, origin rules, and digitalization in international trade. Priced at CHF 550/650 with networking aperitif.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants can complete the Sachbearbeiter/-in Import/Export program in 6 days
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered platinum partner, premium partner, network partner and core.

• Deloitteplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeloitte is a Platinum Partner of SSIB, providing expertise in customs and global trade management. Deloitte professionals serve as seminar instructors on topics including export controls, sanctions, customs valuation, and US re-export controls.
• AEB (AEB Schweiz AG)platinum partnerTechnology or IntegrationAEB is a Platinum Partner providing customs software solutions. SSIB works with AEB on Passar (new Swiss customs system) training and implementation, with their experts contributing to seminar content on digital customs processes.
• DSV Global Transport and Logisticspremium partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSV is a Premium Partner and sponsor of SSIB events including lunch webinars on global supply chain challenges. DSV professionals contribute as seminar instructors in logistics and freight forwarding topics.
• SERV (Swiss Export Risk Insurance)network partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerSERV is a Network Partner of SSIB, providing export credit insurance services and contributing to the foreign trade ecosystem.
• HAW (Handelsakademie Walche)network partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerHAW is a Network Partner collaborating with SSIB on education and professional development in international trade.
• Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE)network partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerS-GE is a Network Partner and members receive discounted pricing on SSIB courses. S-GE promotes Swiss exports and international trade, aligning with SSIB's mission.
• Juventus SchulencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSSIB is relocating its headquarters to cooperate with Juventus Schulen at Zürich Hauptbahnhof. SSIB will use Juventus's modern infrastructure for education at the new location from August 2026.
• Handels- und Industrieverein des Kantons BerncoreOthersOne of the co-owners of SSIB. The school is a company of the Swiss Industry and Commerce Chambers.
• Industrie- und Handelskammer St. Gallen-AppenzellcoreOthersCo-owner of SSIB and implementation partner providing training locations and promotional support.
• Handelskammer beider BaselcoreOthersCo-owner of SSIB and implementation partner providing training locations in Basel.
• Industrie- und Handelskammer Zentralschweiz (IHZ)coreOthersCo-owner of SSIB and implementation partner providing training locations in Luzern.
• Camera di Commercio Cantone TicinocoreOthersCo-owner of SSIB and implementation partner providing training locations in Lugano.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcsZy1nlQvKo4_LflOiQuBg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/importexportschule
• Instagraminstagram.com/ssib.ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/swissschoolforinternationalbusiness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swiss School for International Business