OREANDA-NEWS. December 8, 2011. Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Sergiy Arbuzov met State Secretary Michael Ambuhl, Head of the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters and Deputy State Secretary Alexander Karrer within the framework of a two-day official visit to the Swiss Confederation. 

Beatrice Maser, Head of the Department of Economic Cooperation and Development at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, Bernhard Marfurt, a representative from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and other officials participated in the meeting.

In the course of the meeting, the Swiss side expressed hope for expansion of cooperation within the framework of the World Bank and the IMF. Alexander Karrer has emphasized that reforms in Ukraine are on the right track. In particular, he pointed out that Ukraine would be able to join Switzerland’s group at the International Monetary Fund and all the Group members would welcome that step.

Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Sergiy Arbuzov put forward a suggestion to open a representative office of the Ukrainian state bank in the Swiss Confederation. " Such an initiative would bring us closer to investors, as Switzerland is a well-known place in Europe for conducting talks with investors," said the Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine.

The sides discussed issues related to cooperation under a Free Trade Agreements between Ukraine and the European Free Trade Association, the Swiss Confederation being the member whereof.