Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann to attend opening of International Green Week in Berlin
Bern, 14.01.2014 - On 16 January Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER, will travel to Berlin for the opening of International Green Week, where he will meet Germany's Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Hans-Peter Friedrich. Further meetings with members of Germany's new federal government are planned during the one-day visit.
Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann will use the opening of the world's largest fair for food, agriculture and horticulture as an opportunity to meet a number of agriculture ministers, including Germany's new Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hans-Peter Friedrich. Prior to the official opening ceremony, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research will visit the Swiss stand, which features a special show.
As part of his one-day visit to Berlin, Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann will take the opportunity to hold discussions with his German counterparts. The head of the EAER will meet the new Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Sigmar Gabriel, as well as the new Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Andrea Nahles. The discussions will focus on bilateral economic relations, the free movement of persons, Switzerland's relations with the EU and energy matters.
At his meeting with Johanna Wanka, Federal Minister for Education and Research, Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann will talk about dual systems of vocational education and training, which are attracting considerable interest from countries with high levels of youth unemployment. The ministers will also address issues relating research policy such as the eighth EU framework programme, Horizon 2020, multilateral research infrastructures and the future of bilateral innovation forums.
Germany is Switzerland's most important trading partner by far. In 2012 Switzerland exported goods to the value of CHF 42 billion, while imports amounted to CHF 55 billion. At the end of 2012, Swiss direct investment in Germany amounted to CHF 51 billion, while German businesses invested over CHF 29 billion in Switzerland.
What is true for trade is also true in terms of research: figures regarding the EU framework programmes and those from the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF show that Swiss researchers work most frequently with colleagues from Germany. Together with Switzerland, Germany is the main partner in the successful FET flagship 'Human Brain Project', which is coordinated by the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne EPFL.
Address for enquiries
Rudolf Christen, Head of Information EAER, Tel. +41 31 322 39 60
Publisher
Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
