In view of the positive results of a pilot project carried out this year, the Federal Council has decided to continue to use the WEF as a platform for Switzerland's communication abroad and to safeguard Swiss interests as well as to enlarge the premises of the existing HoS in Davos.
From 2020, Switzerland's official presence at the WEF will be centred on a HoS located in the Vaillant Arena, the home stadium of HC Davos, a few minutes' walk from the Davos Congress Centre. Presence Switzerland, part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will oversee the conversion of a section of the stadium into a HoS during the WEF. The HoS will accommodate meetings of the Federal Council, the Swiss delegation and international stakeholders, as well as events organised in collaboration with various actors from business, politics and academia. There will also be ample space for Swiss and foreign journalists and the Federal Councillors' official press conferences. During the WEF in January of this year, the HoS hosted bilateral working meetings with three foreign ministers, a signing ceremony, various thematic events and press conferences.
As Switzerland is the host state of the WEF, the Davos Congress Centre has a Swiss Lounge reserved for the exclusive use of the President of the Swiss Confederation for bilateral meetings and discussions.
In 2020, the WEF will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Davos. The HoS will take part in festivities to be organised by the commune of Davos, the WEF and the canton of Graubünden.
The costs for establishing a centralised Swiss presence in the form of a HoS in the Vaillant Arena will amount to about CHF 350,000.
Address for enquiries:
Ambassador Nicolas Bideau
Head of Presence Switzerland
nicolas.bideau@eda.admin.ch
Tel.: +41 79 667 69 15
