A Farewell Message from Ambassador Fabrice Filliez

AFTER FOUR YEARS AS THE HEAD OF THE SWISS EMBASSY IN SINGAPORE, AMBASSADOR FABRICE FILLIEZ SHARES SOME PARTING WORDS UPON LEAVING THE LION CITY TO START HIS NEW POST IN POLAND.

Photo Credit: Art-management.com

Photo credit: Swiss Association in Singapore

The Swiss Association in Singapore and Daniela Erni, President SAS, bidding farewell to Ambassador Filliez at the Swiss Club. Dear Swiss in Singapore, dear friends of Switzerland,

When I arrived with my spouse Ksenia in the summer of 2018, we were excited to build on the long-standing ties and friendship between our two countries. And what a fantastic journey it has been! My tenure in Singapore has been rich and rewarding, both professionally and privately. It is not just an opportunity but a privilege to be working as a diplomat in Singapore, not least because of the well-established Swiss community and close connections to our Swiss pillars such as the Swiss Club, Swiss School, Swiss Association and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce.

My time in Singapore has been marked by one of the most difficult health crises in recent history. The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in the beginning of 2020, has been making a deep impact on both the local and Swiss community, disrupting social relations and business networks, and testing our patience and solidarity. One important aspect of my work during the pandemic was to keep the Swiss community actively informed through letters, newsletters and virtual meetings that were open to the public. The embassy staff have done an exemplary job in assisting the community, dedicating countless hours to fielding the many requests and enquiries. Although it has not always been possible to provide concrete solutions to the various problems that have arisen, we have spared no efforts to support the Swiss community. Likewise, the Swiss community have been amazing, showing strength, solidarity and resilience throughout these challenging times. During my tenure, our bilateral relations have deepened at all levels across a broad spectrum of areas, from trade and finance to education and culture. We successfully hosted visits from official delegations, both ministerial and at working level, encouraging exchanges, strengthening existing collaborations and paving the way for cooperation in new areas such as the digital economy, the cyber field, digitalisation and scientific diplomacy.

We have also strengthened our collaboration with our Swiss and Singaporean local partners and supported various projects in the fields of education, science, sustainability, innovation and culture. One example is the +Pavilion which is open until the end of July at Marina Barrage (see Pages 40 - 41 of this issue of ‘Swiss Club’). I take this opportunity to thank all of our partners for their trust and cooperative spirit over the last four years. The historic Swiss Club became like a second home for me, and I am thankful to its devoted staff who have made every visit pleasant and every event a success.

I have many vibrant and lasting memories of my time in Singapore. When people ask me what I will miss most about this place, my answer is simple and constant: the people! I hope to keep in touch with many of you and look forward to future opportunities that will bring me back to the lion city.

My very best wishes, and a heartfelt thank you for your support.

Get to know Ambassador Frank Grütter, who will arrive in August from Switzerland, in the next issue of ‘Swiss Club’.