President Schneider-Ammann to visit Colombia and Brazil
(Last modification 02.08.2016)
Bern, 29.07.2016 - President Johann N. Schneider-Ammann will travel to Colombia next week for an official visit and will continue on to Rio de Janeiro for the opening of the Olympic Games. In Colombia, Mr Schneider-Ammann will meet President Juan Manuel Santos on Wednesday, 3 August. The official talks in Colombia will focus on the peace process and economic cooperation. On his way to Rio, Mr Schneider-Ammann will stop in Brasília on 4 August for talks with the Brazilian government.
In addition to President Santos, Mr Schneider-Ammann will also meet Minister of Foreign Affairs María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar and Trade Minister María Claudia Lacouture for talks in Bogotá. The items on the agenda include peacebuilding and the Swiss cooperation programme in Colombia; trade and investment; infrastructure projects; and competitiveness and innovation.
Switzerland and Colombia maintain excellent and close relations. Colombia is a priority country for Swiss international cooperation. In recent years, trade between the two countries has intensified. Together with Mónica de Greiff, Executive President of Bogotá's Chamber of Commerce, Mr Schneider-Ammann, who will be accompanied by an economic delegation on his visit to Colombia, will open an international innovation conference in Bogotá. The programme also includes a meeting with representatives of Swiss non-governmental organisations in Colombia.
Opening of the Olympic Games
Switzerland and Brazil share close and extensive relations. Brazil is Switzerland's most important trading partner in Latin America. During his visit to Brasília, Mr Schneider-Ammann will meet Foreign Minister José Serra, who is responsible for matters related to free trade, Minister of Science and Technology Gilberto Kassab and Minister of Development, Industry and Trade Marcos Pereira to discuss economic policy.
On Friday, 5 August, Mr Schneider-Ammann will attend the official opening reception by the Brazilian presidency for the Olympic Games in Rio at the Itamaraty Palace, and the opening ceremony at the Maracanã stadium.Until Sunday, 7 August, several events are scheduled to take place in the House of Switzerland, and bilateral meetings will be held with Michaëlle Jean, Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), and with Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In addition Mr Schneider-Ammann will attend Olympic events and will meet with Swiss athletes in the Olympic Village.
Address for enquiries
EAER Information Service
058 462 20 07, info@gs-wbf.admin.ch
Publisher
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
