Hans-Rudolf Merz in Davos: talks with Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Bill Gates
Bern, 26.01.2008 - Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz held several rounds of bilateral talks on Friday and Saturday at this year's WEF Annual Meeting with, amongst others, the IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates.
In his talks with IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Federal Councillor Merz gave assurance of Switzerland's support for the forthcoming budgetary cuts and the reorientation of the Monetary Fund. In doing so Mr. Merz underscored the importance of increased economic policy monitoring. The latter should concentrate to a greater extent on the interaction between the financial markets and the real economy and on across-country analyses, not least against the backdrop of the most recent financial market turmoil. On the question of quota and voice reform in the IMF, Mr. Merz underlined the importance of calculating country representation based on economic criteria. This means that the formula should continue to be based on market exchange rates and the economic and financial openness of a country should be taken into account appropriately. On the question of analysing the most recent financial market turmoil, Federal Councillor Merz referred to the importance of the efficient division of labour between the main institutions and forums, such as the Financial Stability Forum, the Bank for International Settlements and the IMF.
Furthermore Mr. Merz met with Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates. The focus of the discussion was the importance of Microsoft for the federal administration and the development of e-government. Microsoft is one of the federal administration's most important IT suppliers. From mid-2008 a standard workplace will be rolled out throughout the federal administration featuring Microsoft's new operating system, Vista, and Office 2007. Mr. Merz also took advantage of the opportunity to exchange views with Mr. Gates on the development of e-government. Mr. Gates expressed an interest in the joint activities of the Confederation, cantons and communes in promoting e-government in Switzerland.
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