Swiss Army Knife Suffers Identity Crisis, May Turn Bulgarian

Business | August 3, 2007, Friday // 00:00
Bulgaria: Swiss Army Knife Suffers Identity Crisis, May Turn Bulgarian The knife, which was first produced in Ibach in the canton of Schwyz in 1897, can be equipped with anything from a nail file and a tin opener to a fish-scaler and a USB stick. Photo by www.victorinox.com

Switzerland has been shattered by a political storm after learning Bulgaria, China or Taiwan are likely to land a contract for the production of 65,000 Swiss army knives that have been a symbol of the country for years.

The Swiss army, which is to order the fresh batch of the pocket knives with new specifications, caused nationwide consternation by declaring that under World Trade Organisation rules, the tendering process must be opened to companies worldwide because of the high value of the contract, the Guardian reported.

According to the article China, which has been producing pirate copies of the knife for years, is thought to have the best chance of winning the contract, followed by Taiwan and Bulgaria.

The contract is estimated at 1.7m Swiss francs.

Victorinox, the company that makes the knives, still remains confident that it would win the bid on the combined factors of quality and cost.

The knife, which was first produced in Ibach in the canton of Schwyz in 1897, can be equipped with anything from a nail file and a tin opener to a fish-scaler and a USB stick, and features in the design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

It is credited by everyone from balloonists and astronauts to surgeons and pilots with saving lives and is the official pocket knife for 16 armies around the world, including the US military.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Business » Be a reporter: Write and send your article

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria