Bern is celebrating soon: The first business night brings business into the spotlight!

Bern is celebrating soon: The first business night brings business into the spotlight!

The Bern city council voted on Thursday to introduce a new event called “Gewerbenacht”. This initiative aims to increase the population's understanding of the local economy. Inspired by the successful Museum Night, the Business Night should be designed in a similar way. The event will serve to showcase the diversity of the economy in Bern, ranging from innovative startups to international corporations, as Mayor Marieke Kruit emphasized.

The vote in the city council was clear. The postulate was accepted with 49 votes to 14 and two abstentions. Among the supporters of the project are city council members Béatrice Wertli, Janosch Weyermann and Florence Pärli. Wertli in particular made it clear that Bern should do more for its economy and that residents must develop a greater awareness of the needs of local businesses.

Background and motivation

The idea for the trade night originally comes from a proposal that was introduced to the city parliament on October 17, 2024. This initiative was initiated by the Mitte Stadt Bern, the FDP and the SVP. The aim was to focus on local businesses and make them tangible for the population. Michelle Steinemann, city councilor for the Mitte City of Bern, emphasized the essential role of a strong economy for the well-being of the city.

The trade night is not only intended to emphasize economic freedom, but also to promote solidarity between the various players in the economy. Béatrice Wertli also emphasized how important the dialogue between the economy, housing and consumption is. The event aims to strengthen the quality of life in Bern by clarifying the interaction of these aspects.

The way forward

The introduction of the trade night is a step towards a more intensive integration of the local economy into the everyday lives of Bernese citizens. The local council hopes that this event will raise awareness of the role of industry and promote dialogues that are central to urban development.

Overall, the business night is seen as an opportunity not only to strengthen the economy, but also to promote the community in Bern and to show people how important a strong local business is for everyday life. According to one of the supporters, the event will also help to highlight the importance of compromise and dialogue between different social spheres.

The first preparations for the business night are already underway, and the city of Bern hopes to be able to announce concrete details about its implementation soon. The coming months could be crucial in determining how the event is received by the public.

Further information about the initiative can be found here: The federal government and here: The middle.