Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann to meet US cabinet members and business leaders at the White House
Bern, 09.01.2015 - Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, will take part in round table discussions in Washington on Tuesday, 13 January, at the invitation of the White House. He will speak with the Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, the Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez, and heads of Swiss businesses about investments in the USA, the strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries and the advantages of Switzerland’s dual track system of vocational education and training.
The USA is extremely interested in Switzerland's successful dual-track system of vocational education and training, which is an important factor in the country's low level of (youth) unemployment. The head of the EAER will discuss the advantages of vocational education and training and possible forms of cooperation in this area with the US secretaries of commerce and labor and representatives from business.
The main focus of the event is to explore how economic cooperation between the two countries can be further strengthened. As the sixth largest investor in the USA, Switzerland is an important partner for the US economy. Swiss firms employ around 450,000 people in the USA.
The round table is part of the US government's Select USA programme aimed at highlighting the many advantages the United States has to offer as a location for domestic and foreign investors. Switzerland is taking advantage of the opportunity to boost economic cooperation with the USA and support Swiss investors.
Address for enquiries
Noé Blancpain, Head of Information EAER
Tel. +41 58 462 39 60
Salome Ramseier, Head of Communications, Swiss Embassy in Washington (local coordination)
Tel. +12 02 74 57920
Publisher
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
