19 Jul 2024
Other, Conferences / Workshops,
16:00 - 19:00,
Silva Casa Auditorium, World Trade Institute,
Hallerstrasse 6, Bern, Switzerland OR Online
Closing Ceremony of the 2023/24 Advanced Master Programmes with Ambassador Bollinger
The Closing Ceremony of the 2023-2024 Master Programmes (MILE and TRAIL+) will take place on 19 July 2024 at the Auditorium Silva Casa, World Trade Institute
On behalf of the Executive Directors of the World Trade Institute, we are pleased to invite you to the World Trade Institute's Closing Ceremony of the MILE and TRAIL+ Master’s Programmes, academic year 2023-2024. The ceremony will take place in the Silva Casa Auditorium at the World Trade Institute on 19 July 2024 at 16:00.
As keynote speaker, we are honoured to welcome Ambassador Erwin Bollinger.
About the Keynote Speaker
Ambassador Erwin Bollinger (*1962), Attorney, LLM, Head of the Swiss Permanent Mission to the WTO and EFTA in Geneva since 1st September 2023. From 2018 to 2023 he was Head of Bilateral Economic Relations Division and Federal Council Delegate for Trade Agreements. From 2008 to 2018 he was Head of the Export Controls and Sanctions Section and Dep. Head of the Bilateral Economic Relations Division. From 2005 – 2008 he was Head of Export Control Policy. From 2003 to 2005 he was Dep. Head of Bilateral Economic Relations Europe/Central Asia. From 1999 to 2003 Counsellor at the Swiss Mission to the EU in Brussels. He joined the Federal Administration in 1992 starting at the former Integration Office FDFA/FDEA, transferring to the former Federal Office for Foreign Economic Affairs, World Trade/WTO Section in 1995. Between 1989 and 1992 he worked at swissmedic, becoming Dep. Head of the Legal Affairs Service in 1991.
16.00 Welcome address by Prof. Peter Van den Bossche, WTI’s Director of Studies
16.15 Keynote speech Ambassador Erwin Bollinger on “Staying Fit for Purpose: Trade Diplomacy in Uncertain Times”
17.00 Thomas Cottier Prize for Best Master’s Thesis (2023) to Laura Verbeken (TRAIL+)
17.15 Farewell speech to graduates by Class Representatives: Francisco Montoya (MILE) and Triplicane Satish (TRAIL+)
17.25 Presentation of the MILE and TRAIL+ stones
18. 00 Closing remarks by Prof. Manfred Elsig, WTI’s Deputy Managing Director
The Closing Ceremony will be followed by an Apéro at Beaulieu (by invitation only).