History
Werner Daetwyler in Braunwald before transfer to India in 1935
Mr. Werner Daetwyler passed his commercial degree in 1935 at the Kantonale Handelsschule Zurich and soon after was transferred by Volkart Brothers to Bombay. In 1939 he returned to Switzerland and worked for several companies including Liebermann & Waelchli which later became Cosa Liebermann. In 1950 Mr. Werner Daetwyler founded his own company Werner Daetwyler Export-Import in Zurich, Switzerland and used the name Daetrade as his telegram address.
He was trading in household items, oil burners in imports and exports of various consumer items to India. Late 1950 the export company Oceanic Overseas Trading Company in the US offered him the distribution of instant cameras from Polaroid. He ventured into this field and in 1958 started the distribution of cameras and sunglasses from Polaroid under the name of Polarizers (Switzerland) Ltd. as a subsidiary of Polarizers International Limited Johannesburg who had the franchise for Europe. Subsequent to the end of the cooperation in Europe between Polaroid and Polarizers, the company was renamed in 1960 to Daetwyler Optik Ltd. and remained the distributor for Polaroid till 1967.
In 1986 Daetrade Ltd. Zurich was founded as a limited liability company. In the same year Daetrade International (Pvt.) Ltd. in Colombo, Sri Lanka was established with the purpose of representing companies in the field of raw materials for the food and personal care industry. In 2004 Daetrade SIA was founded in Riga, Latvia dealing in real estate and related projects. In 2015 Daetrade International (Pvt.) Ltd. was founded in Bangkok Thailand. In 2020 Daetrade International Ltd. was founded in Larnaca Cyprus.
The founder of Daetrade Mr. Werner Daetwyler died in 1997 at the age of 81. In paying tribute to him, he will be remembered as a businessman who ventured very early into Asia keeping the bond of friendship with many of his business partners throughout his life.
 Werner Daetwyler with Chakravorty |
 Anselm Perera with Thomas Daetwyler |
 Manilal Fernando |
 Melanie De Silva Daetwyler with Thomas Daetwyler |
 Sarath Withana |
 Prapassara Daetwyler |
 Arnis Teteris |
The business strategy of Daetrade focused from the beginning
on the fastest growing economies and was initiated by the
bonds of friendship
Daetrade International (Pvt.) Ltd.
89, Barnes Place, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Directors: Anselm B. Perera, Melanie Daetwyler
Importation and distribution of Food Flavours and Fragrances and real estate development.
Daetrade SIA
Riga, Latvia
Directors: Arnis Teteris, Thomas Daetwyler
Real Estate and related projects
Daetrade LLC (to be founded)
Zurich, Switzerland
Directors: Sarath Withana, Manilal V. Fernando, Thomas Daetwyler
Agency business, Import and Export
Daetrade International (Pvt.) Ltd.
Bangkok, Thailand
Directors: Prapassara Daetwyler-Chanpuang
Distribution of Mlesna Teas, Trisa Oral Care
Daetrade International Ltd.
Larnaca, Cyprus
Directors: Gabriel Kaimakliotis, Manilal V. Fernando, Thomas Daetwyler
Agency business, Sourcing