Our history

Since its inception in 1934, the Export Risk Guarantee Agency (ERG) has made an important contribution to Switzerland's economic growth. In years of maximum demand the government's guarantee commitments exceeded the amount of the country's entire national budget. Originally created to combat unemployment, the ERG has since become an essential instrument of Switzerland's economic policy and Swiss export promotion.

The brochure entitled ERG Switzerland/World/Jobs 1934-2006 and written by technology and economic historian Dr. Hans-Peter Bärtschi provides greater insight into Switzerland's economy since the founding of the ERG.

On January 1, 2007, SERV, a federal institution under public law, became ERG's successor. The product range of SERV includes ERG products as well as newly introduced ones. Reasons for the extension of the public service offers are the growing internationalization of trade and the proceeding privatization of export markets. Unlike ERG, SERV is able to cover private buyer risks (PBR). This new possibility was added to our products in order to counter commercial disadvantages which Swiss exporters were facing compared to their foreign competitors.