Programme of Federal Councillors attending the WEF Annual Meeting 2011
Bern, 25.01.2011 - The Federal Council considers the WEF Annual Meeting to be extremely important for Davos and for Switzerland as a whole. Each year, leading figures from industry and government gather at the WEF Annual Meeting. It serves as a venue for the informal exchange of views on important topical issues. In view of the economic challenges and the difficulties in the financial markets, the opportunity for such direct contacts among decision makers from government, industry and civil society is extremely valuable.
For the Federal Council, the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos provides a unique opportunity to cultivate relations with a great many leading figures in a special setting. It is an outstanding platform for Switzerland to be able to host this forum for the exchange of views and the search for solutions.
President Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will open the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos on 26 January together with Prof. Klaus Schwab.
During her stay in Davos, President Calmy-Rey will take the opportunity to foster bilateral contacts at the highest level. She will hold discussions with numerous heads of state and government. with speak with a good dozen from around the world and.
Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) will be in Davos between 26 and 30 January. He will use the occasion to foster a range of bilateral contacts, and in particular will be meeting with the German Minister of Economics and Technology, Rainer Brüderle, the Austrian Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister, Josef Pröll, the French Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry, Christine Lagarde and the Russian Minister for Economic Development and Trade, Elvira Nabiullina.
On 28 January, the head of the FDEA will meet the Chinese Trade Minister, Chen Deming to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement with China. At a working breakfast on the same day, Johann N. Schneider-Ammann will meet the presidents of the multilateral development banks to exchange views on the possibilities of coordinating their management policies.
On 29 January the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs will host an informal ministerial meeting on the WTO Doha Round. The aim of the meeting, which around 25 ministers representing the spectrum of interests within the WTO are expected to attend, is to gauge the chances of bringing the Doha Round to a successful conclusion in 2011.
Federal Councillor, Doris Leuthard, head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) , will attend the WEF Energy Summit. This event offers the opportunity for exchanges on energy policy issues with politicians and representatives of the business community.
Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, head of the Federal Department of Finance, will take the opportunity to foster bilateral contacts and meet representatives of the business community.
The head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, will travel to Davos to visit the troops on duty.
The WEF Annual Meeting in Davos provides an occasion for many more contacts and discussions. The programme outlined here is therefore subject to last minute changes.
Further information on the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos can be found at www.news.admin.ch > Documentation > World Economic Forum.
Publisher
Federal Chancellery
https://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/en/home.html
