The meetings in Vienna and Vaduz served as a platform for a general exchange of ideas on the countries' financial market strategies, as well as on financial and tax policy issues. It was also the inaugural visit of State Secretary Michael Ambühl, who took up office as Head of the FDF's newly created State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) on 1 March 2010.

In Vienna, Mr. Ambühl met with State Secretaries Reinhold Lopatka and Andreas Schieder, as well as with Klaus Liebscher, CEO of Finanzmarktbeteiligung Aktiengesellschaft des Bundes (FIMBAG). The talks focused on both countries' tax policies.

While in Vaduz, Mr. Ambühl met with the head of government, Klaus Tschütscher, as well as with representatives of Liechtenstein's Financial Market Supervisory Authority, Tax Administration and financial centre. Mr. Ambühl and Mr. Tschütscher discussed, among other things, the issue of Liechtenstein's joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

State Secretariat for International Financial Matters

The State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF), led by Michael Ambühl, reports directly to the Head of the FDF. It is responsible for the coordination and strategic management of international financial, monetary and tax matters, and represents Switzerland's interests abroad in these areas. The State Secretariat's duties also include drafting basic principles on financial market policy and financial market regulation, as well as actively participating in international efforts to combat financial crime.

Additional information can be found at www.sif.admin.ch.

Working visits of State Secretary Michael Ambühl to Vienna and Vaduz