Programme of the Federal Councillors attending the WEF Annual Meeting 2014
Bern, 22.01.2014 - The Federal Council believes that the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting is of great importance to Davos and to Switzerland. Each year, this event brings together leaders from the worlds of business and government. It serves as a venue for an informal exchange of opinions on major topical issues. In view of the current economic and political challenges, the opportunity for such direct contact among decision-makers from government, business and civil society is extremely valuable.
The WEF Annual Meeting provides the Federal Council with a unique platform to cultivate relations with a great many leading figures in a special setting. Hosting this forum in which ideas are exchanged and solutions sought is an outstanding opportunity for Switzerland.
On 22 January, President Didier Burkhalter, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, will open the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014 in Davos along with Prof. Klaus Schwab. During his stay at the event, due to last until 24 January, around a dozen meetings are planned with heads of state and government. In addition, President Burkhalter, in his capacity as chairman-in-office of the OSCE, has invited foreign ministers from OSCE states to an informal exchange of views on the future role of the organisation. He is also due to attend an informal meeting with business leaders on "The reshaping of the world: defining the imperatives for 2014."
On Friday, 24 January, President Burkhalter is due to participate at an Open Forum session entitled "The secret is out: what's next for Switzerland?"
Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER, will be in Davos from 22 to 25 January. During this time he will meet various ministers for economics, trade and industry, in particular those from Switzerland's neighbouring states and from states with which the country is engaged in free trade negotiations. These include counterparts from Asia, namely India, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. He will also hold talks with the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Laszlo Andor. Lastly, a meeting is also planned with the South African science minister and an informal exchange on the new World Bank strategy with the bank's president, Jim Yong Kim. On Saturday, 25 January, Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann will host an informal WTO meeting. This meeting, likely to be attended by around 25 ministers, will serve as an initial exchange of views on a further work programme in the WTO following the successful conclusion of the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali in December last year.
Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, head of the Federal Department of Finance FDF, will be meeting finance ministers Anders Borg (Sweden), Michael Noonan (Ireland), Fabrizio Saccomanni (Italy), Jeroen Dijsselbloem (Netherlands), Wolfgang Schäuble (Germany), as well as EU Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría to discuss current financial and fiscal issues. Together with the head of the EAER, Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, she will also hold talks with the French economy and finance minister, Pierre Moscovici.
Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC, will meet the EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard and Christiana Figueres, Secretary-General of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCC. Discussions are also planned with the Peruvian energy minister Jorge Merino Tafur and the Danish climate and energy minister Martin Lidegaard. Federal Councillor Leuthard will also take part in further energy-related events.
The WEF Annual Meeting in Davos also provides numerous opportunities for further contacts and discussions; last-minute changes to the programme are therefore possible. The details listed above are therefore subject to change.
Further information on the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos can be found at www.news.admin.ch > Documentation > World Economic Forum.
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