On 27 March, the Federal Council appointed Anna Fontcuberta i Morral as the new president of EPFL. The 49-year-old is a professor of materials science and engineering at EPFL in Lausanne. She will succeed Martin Vetterli on 1 January 2025.
On 10 March Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and his counterparts from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway signed a free trade agreement with Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Viola Amherd sent video messages for the signing ceremony.
During his mission to Qatar, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin met the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mohammad bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani. Together with Finance Minister Ali Al Kuwari, Guy Parmelin opened the second Joint Financial and Economic Commission. Finally, at the invitation of the Minister of Agriculture, Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and his delegation visited Expo 2023 Doha, an exhibition dedicated to horticulture and sustainable development, as well as the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition.
Saudi Arabia needs new infrastructure. At two round-table discussions, representatives of the Swiss business community will be briefed on potential opportunities. Our companies can make an important contribution. They are signing agreements, for example Stadler Rail for new trains, Hashgraph in the IT sector, and Ionair in the field of ambient air ionisation. There is a great deal of interest, and our country has an excellent reputation here.
Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin is to travel to Saudi Arabia from 4-6 February and Qatar from 7-9 February with a large delegation of economic experts. Official talks will take place with various ministers in both countries. In Saudi Arabia, Federal Councillor Parmelin will open a Swiss-Saudi economic forum and in Qatar he will visit the Swiss pavilion at the 2023 International Horticultural Exposition (EXPO 2023 Doha).
January 2024
20.01.2024 EFTA - India
EFTA - India
At the invitation of India's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin visited Mumbai on 19 and 20 January. The outcome of the trip was very fruitful: after 16 years of negotiations, Switzerland and India have agreed on the broad outlines of an EFTA-India trade agreement. Although negotiations are not yet complete, a significant breakthrough has been made. The text still needs to be finalised.
The EFTA states (Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Chile concluded negotiations on the modernisation of their free trade agreement in Santiago de Chile on January 19th 2024. Switzerland is thereby continuing its successful free trade policy and strengthening the competitiveness of its economy.
Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), used the Annual Meeting in Davos to promote various thematic priorities in the areas of business, trade, research and innovation. Bilateral talks were held with...
On Monday, 15 January, a Federal Council delegation received a Chinese delegation led by Premier Li Qiang at the Lohn Estate for an official visit to Switzerland. Following the discussions, a joint declaration was signed with reference in particular to the finalisation of a joint study launched in 2017 on the further development of the free trade agreement between Switzerland and China. This marks an important step towards the start of possible negotiations.