Swiss Delegation to Take Part in SPIEF 2019
Advisor to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov and Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation in the Russian Federation Yves Rossier held a meeting in Moscow during which the main agenda was a discussion of a Swiss delegation’s participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2019.
“We welcome the high level of interest among representatives of Swiss business, officials, and experts in further developing and strengthening business ties with their Russian partners, including using the SPIEF platform. This year marks the 205th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, which should be fittingly noted. It is gratifying to see the positive dynamics in Switzerland’s business activities in Russia, where the Swiss business is expanding its presence each year. As of today, there are more than 600 enterprises with Swiss capital operating in our country. Besides, Switzerland has opened official representative offices in various regions of our country – Samara and Novosibirsk”, Kobyakov said.
This year, Switzerland launched an initiative to organize two events at the SPIEF 2019: a bilateral Swiss-Russian Business Dialogue and a panel discussion on corporate social responsibility as a factor for sustainable development. The Swiss delegation will be officially represented at the SPIEF 2019 by State Secretary for Economic Affairs Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch and State Secretary for International Finance Daniela Stoffel.
“Last year, almost 200 representatives from our country, including officials and business representatives, attended the Forum. This year, the heads of leading Swiss companies have already confirmed they will attend. Such interest from the business community is an indicator of the impressive practical return the Forum offers as a platform for building international dialogue and finding new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between countries”, Rossier said.
Swiss delegations have been participating in the SPIEF for several years in a row. In 2017, the Roscongress Foundation and the World Economic Forum signed a memorandum of cooperation during the Forum. A memorandum of cooperation was also signed with the Russian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, otherwise known as the Russian-Swiss Forum Foundation, on the sidelines of Russian Energy Week in 2017. An official delegation led by State Secretary for International Finance Jörg Gasser took part in the SPIEF 2018.
During the 50th anniversary session of the World Economic Forum in 2020, such collaboration is expected to continue, while cooperation within the framework of business contacts will be significantly expanded, including at the level of the programme of Davos events.
Russia and Switzerland are actively developing their cultural dialogue and organizing exhibitions, theatrical performances, and concerts, among other things.
