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A New Year’s Message from the Swiss Ambassador
© Art-managemet.com Dear Members of the Swiss Club,
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I hope you had a happy Christmas holiday and have started the new year with lots of joy. 2021 was another challenging year for the Swiss community in Singapore. Many were separated from their loved ones back home, experienced illness in their families and felt the impact of social distancing regulations. I am all the more grateful that the Vaccinated Travel Lane between Singapore and Switzerland has enabled families to be reunited again, ending the year on a positive note. With Singapore gradually opening its borders, we are hopeful that cross-border movement and connections will help us heal as a society, as one community and as an economy. Staying connected is the only way for Switzerland and Singapore to overcome the many challenges that still lie ahead.
2021 was a very special year for the Swiss Club as it celebrated its 150th anniversary in Singapore. We are proud that it is one of the most historic clubs in Singapore, providing a home away from home to the Swiss and international community. The recently renovated historic Clubhouse, surrounded by lush greenery, is truly a little oasis for families in Singapore. Despite the many challenges of social distancing, the Swiss Club managed to celebrate its anniversary with various Swiss traditions and events. The Swiss Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, who visited the FinTech Festival in Singapore with a delegation of high-ranking representatives from the Swiss financial centre in November, held his welcome brief in the beautiful and historical Rifle Lounge!
I would like to thank Rolf Gerber for his tireless commitment, all his work and the close collaboration with the Swiss Embassy and Swiss pillars during his time as President at the Swiss Club. He will be missed, but I am sure that he will maintain close contacts with all of us. I take this opportunity to congratulate the new President Thomas von Rueti, already well known in the community, and wish him all the best of success in his new role. The embassy looks forward to continuing a close and sustainable partnership, celebrating Swiss traditions and culture together.
To kick-start the new year with positive energy, I am happy to announce that the embassy has an exciting programme lined up for spring 2022: The Swiss Weeks. We will be screening family-friendly films at Gardens By the Bay and present culinary events and highlights in collaboration with our Swiss food and beverage partners and EHL Campus (Singapore). We will be presenting TechArt and Swiss Cleantech solutions at the Singapore Sustainable Gallery. Other events include an embroidery workshop, an exhibition in the context of the renovation of the Swiss Embassy, a concert with Swiss-Singapore Artist Tabitha Nauser, an open day at the Swiss School, and many more events. Last but not least, we will be presenting +Pavilion, a pop-up installation developed with Swiss and local partners. Please find more information about the Swiss Weeks by following our Facebook page (@SwissEmbassySingapore) and my Twitter account (@SwissAmbSGP).
On behalf of our team, I wish you a very Happy New Year filled with joy and peace.
With warm greetings,
F. Filliez
Fabrice Filliez
Ambassador of Switzerland
