Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
Bern, 07.11.2022 – Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin will travel to the UK and Spain from 10 to 11 November 2022 for business visits. In addition to job interviews, the aim in London is to strengthen research cooperation and sign a corresponding agreement. In Madrid, the main focus will be on the economic policy priorities of the two countries.
Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and the British Department of Economics November 10 in London A sign of energy and industrial strategy. The MoU aims in particular to deepen the networking and cooperation between the research and innovation communities of both countries.
Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin will also meet the British Minister of State for International Trade, Kemi Badenoch, for bilateral talks. The focus is on the further development of the bilateral trade agreement between Switzerland and the UK. Switzerland is interested in continuing bilateral economic relations with the UK at a high level and, if possible, in intensifying them even after leaving the EU.
With 12.2 billion Swiss francs, the UK is Switzerland’s eighth trading partner (including the gold trade: 4th place with a volume of 46.2 billion Swiss francs). The UK is the fourth most important destination for Swiss investments and Switzerland is the eighth most important foreign investor in the UK according to British statistics.
Spain: discussions on economic policy priorities
On November 10, Federal Councilor Parmelin will be received by Nadia Calviño, first vice president of the Spanish government and minister of the economy and digital transformation. Federal Councilor Parmelin will also meet with the Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Reyes Maroto for official talks on 11 November. Among other things, the economic policy priorities of the two countries will be discussed in view of economic, ecological, energy, digital and social change.
Together with representatives of Swiss companies, Federal Councilor Parmelin will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Swiss Business Hub Spain to celebrate. Established in 2002 Swiss business hub is part of the Swiss Embassy in Madrid and represents the official Swiss organization for the promotion of exports and localization, Global company Switzerland (S-GE).
With a trading volume of CHF 20.1 billion, Spain is Switzerland’s sixth trading partner (8th place including gold trading). Spain is in 17th place among the target countries for Swiss direct investments and Switzerland, for its part, is in eighth place among foreign investors in Spain according to Spanish statistics.
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Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
http://www.wbf.admin.ch
