Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard will use the presence of numerous economic affairs, foreign and trade ministers at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos as an opportunity to host an informal meeting with the Ministers responsible for WTO issues.

After the resumption of the WTO negotiations on a technical level on 16 November 2006, the aim of the meeting is, in presence of WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy, to take stock on ministerial level and exchange ideas on the road ahead and how to advance the process of the Doha Round negotiations. The meeting will be held on Saturday morning, 27 January 2007 and will be followed by a luncheon. Around thirty ministers are expected to attend, reflecting the full spectrum of trade sensibilities in the framework of the ongoing WTO negotiations.

In connection with the informal meeting, the following appointments have been made for the benefit of the media:

Photo opportunity:

9.15 - 9.30am

Hotel Sheraton Seehof, Promenade 159, Davos

(Meeting point: Hotel lobby)

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Press conference with Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard and
WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy:

12.30 - 13.00

Sheraton Seehof Hotel, Promenade 159, Davos

Notice for journalists not accredited with the WEF Annual Meeting: Journalists wishing to attend
must register in writing with Alexandra Vuilleumier (alexandra.vuilleumier@seco.admin.ch), State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco), Bundeshaus Ost, 3003 Bern
by 22 January 2007 providing the following details: surname, first name, date of birth, employer, nationality. On presentation of a valid ID and a press card,
registered journalists will be provided with a special badge in the tent in front of the Sheraton Seehof Hotel. No access will be granted to the Sheraton Seehof Hotel without prior registration.

Accredited journalists to the WEF
do not require a special badge.

Informal WTO Minister Meeting in Davos hosted by Switzerland