Presence Switzerland

Presence Switzerland is an organizational unit within the General Secretariat of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA). Presence Switzerland deals with issues of public diplomacy and nation branding and is responsible for the appearance of Switzerland abroad in these areas. As part of its activities is Presence Switzerland, the strategy of the Swiss government, the Federal Council of Switzerland's communication to.

Formation and mission

Presence Switzerland was established by decision of the Swiss Parliament on 24 March 2000 as a decentralized administrative unit and administratively assigned to the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The Law and the Regulation on the promotion of Switzerland's image abroad occurred on 15 November 2000. By order of the Federal Council of 3 September 2008, the organization was fully integrated on 1 January 2009 in the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

Presence Switzerland is the successor organization of the Coordination Commission for the presence of Switzerland abroad ( KOKO ), whose last big project was the realization of the Swiss Pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hanover.

The statutory permanent tasks of the country's communication are the promotion of Switzerland's visibility abroad, the explanation of the concerns and positions of Switzerland against a foreign public and the building and maintaining of Switzerland's network of relationships with decision makers and opinion leaders abroad.

Presence Switzerland realizes this mission through projects abroad, inviting foreign journalists and decision-makers in Switzerland, the development and distribution of information about Switzerland abroad and performances of Switzerland at major international events such as World Expos ( Swiss Pavilion for the last time with the Swiss Pavilion Expo 2012 Yeosu, next times at the Expo 2015 in Milan ) or at the Olympic Games ( House of Switzerland ). Basis for all activities of Presence Switzerland is the brand Switzerland, in which the main statements and the visual appearance of Switzerland are set abroad.

With effect from 1 January 2009, the Federal Council has assigned the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, including Presence Switzerland, new responsibilities in the field of image threats and crises: Is the image of Switzerland abroad seriously threatened or has an image crisis already occurred, submit the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs to the Federal Council a communication concept. The basis for this enhanced presence Switzerland in collaboration with the Swiss foreign missions monitoring and analysis of foreign media coverage of Switzerland and Switzerland related issues ( Issues Monitoring ).

In fulfilling its statutory mandate Presence Switzerland works closely with other public and private actors and coordinated within the framework of programs and major projects of national communication their cooperation.