The world's biggest food group, Nestle, says it is willing to partially finance a rescue of the national airline industry to safeguard Switzerland's reputation, but only if other firms do so too.
Chief executive Mr Peter Brabeck told a news conference today that Nestle was prepared to invest in a Swiss airline provided there was a realistic and economically viable long-term project on the table. The group had so far rejected any interest.
"If there is a realistic and economically viable long-term project for a Swiss airline, then Nestle has a significant interest" in taking part," he told reporters.
But "it can't be Nestle's duty to save [collapsed] Swissair as we have a responsibility to our shareholders," he added. He said Nestle would take part because the overall image of Switzerland was important to Nestle which is a Swiss company.
He said it was prepared to pay as much as other big Swiss blue chip firms such as Novartis or Roche Holding, which have soar not made any official commitments.