Team Switzerland makes its presence felt at Davos

At the 50th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos from 21 to 24 January 2020, a House of Switzerland was set up for the second time to showcase the country. With 30 official Federal Council meetings, 15 thematic events and more than 1,000 visitors, this year's House of Switzerland was a resounding success. Centrally located in the HC Davos ice hockey stadium, it served as Switzerland's communication platform during the Forum.

With Presence Switzerland – part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs – at the helm this is the second year the House of Switzerland has brought together under one roof the official Swiss presence at the World Economic Forum. Located in the immediate vicinity of the congress centre, just outside the security zone, it served as a meeting place to promote exchanges between political institutions, business, science and universities, and civil society – with the aim of finding common answers to global challenges and to promote Switzerland's international interests.

Bringing together the public and private sectors, a total of 15 thematic events were held in the House of Switzerland, attended by ministers, directors, international organisations, NGOs, leaders of multinationals, journalists and academics, including a Nobel Prize winner. Six of the events were also part of the official programme. Five Swiss federal government departments – working with partners from the private sector – organised events on a wide range of topics, from innovative Swiss technologies to combat global warming, to cyber security in energy supply, to sustainable food and sustainable financing models in the service of the common good.

With over 30 official meetings, the House of Switzerland was also actively used by the president of the Swiss Confederation, Simonetta Sommaruga, and her fellow federal councillors. On Wednesday evening, the House of Switzerland opened its doors to the local population, welcoming numerous interested visitors from Davos and the surrounding area.

We have pulled it off – the House of Switzerland brand is now well and truly established at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. The message is simple: combine business with pleasure in a refined yet relaxed atmosphere, to ensure the highest quality of debate in appropriate, dignified surroundings. Needless to say, we are already working on how we will build on this success next year and beyond in Davos,

said Ambassador Nicolas Bideau, head of Presence Switzerland.