Dear Swiss citizens in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos,

COVID-19 - actually I’d rather not mention this global health and economic crisis in this foreword, because so much has already been said and written. However, as your Ambassador and as the head of a team of almost 60 members, I cannot and will not bury my head in the sand. I feel that we, who live in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, are very lucky, because we are much less affected than, for example, our home country. With great concern we look at the current number of cases in Switzerland. The second wave of infection has hit our country with a force we could not have imagined just a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, we too must not sit back and continue to observe the hygiene and behavioral regulations in a disciplined manner. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the work of the Embassy for months, which is why the topic will appear in many articles in this issue. But I feel that it has also brought us closer together as a community of Swiss citizens abroad. The Embassy regularly holds telephone conferences with the presidents of the various Swiss clubs in Thailand and Cambodia, the Swiss-Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Swiss school and the two Honorary Consuls in Chiang Mai and Phuket. This gives us much more direct knowledge about the experiences of everybody. Since we cannot travel to Cambodia and Laos and our travel activities within Thailand are also severely restricted, we are now meeting online via our virtual interactions #AskTheEmbassy. This direct contact allows me to understand better your needs, concerns, complaints and opinions and I would like to thank all participants for their interest and openness.

The crisis is far from over. At the moment, the strict travel restrictions for entering Thailand are giving me a big headache. For weeks we have been regularly meeting with relevant Thai authorities involved and have been trying to find a solution for pensioners with an annual visa O. I am pleased to report that our efforts have not been in vain. Indeed, since November 11th, this visa category is authorized to travel to Thailand. You will find more information in this Newsletter. We are also becoming increasingly aware of how the economic consequences of the crisis are causing more and more concern to our working fellow citizens. Some have lost their jobs or their source of income and are now living on their savings. Still others have already had to bury their dream to emigrate abroad and have returned to Switzerland - partly with the support of our Embassy and our offices in Phnom Penh and Vientiane. Many of you have also decided to help your neighbors. Doing what you can, with your own means, to help those around you in need: a typically Swiss trait! At a time when foreigners all over the world are often viewed with suspicion, I am convinced that such solidarity contributes to bring down barriers and fears. I would therefore like to thank our committed fellow citizens for their efforts. On the Embassy's side, we also strive to provide support wherever possible. For example, the Embassy staff have contributed to purchase food products for refugees and homeless people. I also had the honor of participating in solidarity actions on two occasions. The first time, we distributed relief kits to migrant workers from Myanmar with the Thai Red Cross outside Bangkok. Then another time, I accompanied German and Swiss volunteers in Koh Samui to distribute basic necessities to Thai people affected by the crisis. These were very emotional experiences, in contrast to what I usually see and experience in Bangkok.

Even in these difficult times, there are rays of hope, which we report on with even greater joy than usual. Here are a few examples. After the general lockdown, we visited Swiss companies in Thailand. Despite severe restrictions, our Cultural attaché succeeded in bringing to the stage in Bangkok a play with two Swiss actors. On August 1, for once there were no bratwursts and cervelats, but Swiss songs, performed by a Swiss opera singer in Swiss German, French and Italian. The Swiss Humanitarian Aid team prepared the Swiss contribution to a common fund from UN called : "UN ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries". I had the honour to sign this agreement in September. Furthermore, our embassy team is committed to reduce our carbon footprint. Our Green Team has introduced a completely new recycling concept on the embassy’s compound. And a few days ago we enjoyed the first homemade basil ice-creams, with basil growing in our newly laid out garden. As you know, urban gardening is trendy, and this project has aroused a lot of enthusiasm among our young Swiss and Thai colleagues. In these special times, we have all learned to enjoy small things a lot more.

Other good news for you: following some remarks on the language mix in our last Newsletter, we are publishing this edition in four languages. Your suggestions and criticism are always welcome. It is important to us to optimise our services for your greatest satisfaction.

While this is one of my last communications to you in 2020, I hope to be able to start the year 2021 on a much more optimistic note. Let me quote Czech President Havel: "Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out". For the first time in about 40 years, water turtles have been nesting on Samui. In earlier years, tourists apparently always prevented the turtles from going ashore and their eggs were lost in the sea water.

At this end of the year I wish you all good health and moments of peace and reflection in the circle of your loved ones. With warm greetings,

Helene Budliger Artieda

Ambassador

Kanta Bopha Hospitals, Phnom Penh

Following a first trip for her accreditation to Cambodia in November 2019, Ambassador Helene Budliger Artieda visited Phnom Penh twice in January and February 2020.

On these occasions, she met with several high level representatives of the Cambodian Government, where she discussed about the bilateral relations between the two countries, development cooperation as well as human rights issues. Furthermore, she also participated in the 2nd Swiss Business-NGO-SDC Partnership Forum, an important initiative of the Cooperation Office in Phnom Penh which aims to bring together Swiss companies and NGOs with the SDC. Together, they are collaborating to promote inclusive and sustainable development in Cambodia with a touch of Swissness.

During these visits, the Ambassador also attended the screening of a film followed by a debate on the theme of dealing with the past, met with very dynamic representatives of civil society and visited the Kanta Bopha Hospitals with the Director Dr. Denis Laurent.

The Secretary General of UN ESCAP, Armida Alisjahbana and Ambassador Helene Budliger Artieda are signing the agreement

On 26 August 2020, the Government of Switzerland and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) signed an agreement to contribute to a common fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian Countries. The Swiss contribution of USD 300,000 will cover the period June 2020 to May 2021.

The purpose is to strengthen disaster and climate resilience across the region by supporting the implementation of the following activities:

a) Enhanced early warning regional cooperation;

b) Strengthening ‘last mile’ multi-hazard Early Warning Systems EWS in complex situations of human insecurity;

c) Investing in climate risk management; and

d) Harnessing innovation, science and technologies.

The first networking event of the Swiss-Thailand Chamber of Commerce (STCC) was jointly organised by the President of the STCC, Bruno Odermatt, and the Swiss Embassy on 13 August 2020. After a long break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event was also an opportunity to introduce the new Executive Director of the STCC, Mr. David Stauffacher. We are convinced that Mr. Stauffacher will play a key role in strengthening the collaboration between the Embassy, STCC and Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE). In addition, Mr. Andreas Wanner from Mister Loo AG was also present at the event, where he shared his experience of his return to Thailand in these challenging times.

Did you know that more than 200 Swiss-related companies are established in Thailand? Since the beginning of the year, Ambassador Helene Budliger Artieda has attended several events organized by the Swiss private sector and has also started a series of company visits. She visited Nestlé, ABB Thailand and Ronda, where she witnessed their contribution to the local economy, with a mix of innovation, tradition and expertise. Unfortunately, due to the current situation, we had to postpone other meetings. The Ambassador looks forward to continuing these visits as soon as circumstances will allow it.

Mario Pachioli and Laurent Brunetti

The Francophonie month at the Alliance Française opened on February 28. Traditionally held every March, all the Francophone embassies present in Bangkok had planned very different and interesting events, including our embassy. On March 3, we had the honour to welcome the artists Mario Pacchioli and Laurent Brunetti, better known as "Pêcheur de rêve", doing a major tour in Asia. The audience was thrilled by their musical and comedic talent. This was their second performance in Bangkok and they will of course be welcome in Bangkok in the future.

For our first cultural event since the health crisis, the artist couple Deborah and Frédéric Landenberg performed the play "Love Letters" at the Alliance Française on September 23rd.

This performance of the play by A. R. Gurney transported us into the world of Melissa and Andrew and their amorous epistolary exchange. 100 minutes of strong emotions that elapsed in the blink of an eye! The audience was charmed and both artists received a well-deserved and enthusiastic applause.

Frédéric Landenberg will be back at the Alliance Française to play "La confession du pasteur Burg" by Jacques Chessex in French on Thursday 26 November 2020. Reserve your seats now on the Alliance Française website.

Thank you to the Swiss Cultural Fund and all its sponsors for their generous support which allows the Embassy to organise these different cultural events.

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Every year, there are a few changes in the embassy team. We are pleased to welcome the following new colleagues to our team (from left to right): Khun Tiamkare Thitithamtada, who strengthens our political and economic section and is responsible for political reporting. Khun Thanawat Kwapan takes care of our mail and supports us in various other tasks. Mrs. Simone Spring has moved from Sidney to Bangkok and works in our consular office. Khun David Rutter is the new Maître d'hôtel at the Ambassador’s residence. Khun Patchaya Thanaudom is part of the political and economic team and is in charge of the dossier on economic and financial affairs, among other things. Ms. Phyllis Bussinger supports our political and economic section for one year as an intern. Ms. Sylvia Britschgi will complete her consular training in Bangkok and will stay with us afterwards. Mr. Steve Kellenberger has moved from Strasbourg with his family and works in the visa section. A warm welcome to all!

There was no question of welcoming 600 guests as usual to celebrate our National Day this year, when we were in the middle of a pandemic. So our team had to be a little creative in order to maintain a festive side for August 1st. The Swiss opera singer, Hélène McClellan, accompanied the Ambassador for two days on a series of visits to key partners and friends of the Embassy to perform Swiss folk songs. We called it "The singing telegram"! On these occasions, the two Helene's were enthusiastically welcomed and then offered a complete raclette set and even potatoes to their hosts! This gift was very much appreciated by both the Thai and the Swiss hosts. It was a successful alternative to celebrate our national day! You can watch the video of these visits here.

You can now follow Ambassador Helene Budliger Artieda on Twitter. Her first tweet on 1st of August was dedicated to our Swiss community members and underscores the importance of community spirit. During this coronavirus pandemic, we have seen how important timely and accurate information is, and therefore believe that the Ambassador’s new Twitter account will be a perfect addition to our existing communication platforms (namely, Facebook, website and email). If you haven’t already, please follow her to keep up with direct updates on important developments and information about Switzerland’s relations with Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR.

You may recall that in the last newsletter we mentioned the creation of a "Green Team" within the Embassy. This team has since developed an action plan to reduce the environmental impact of the embassy and raise staff awareness of the effects of climate change.

One of the important projects is the creation of a vegetable garden on the embassy’s compound. In a first successful phase, a few colleagues and the team of gardeners planted a bed of herbs. With the first basil harvest, the entire embassy team had the pleasure of enjoying home-made basil ice cream. In the second phase, we will plant vegetables and then grow fruit.

"Team Samui" is a good example of voluntary collaboration between Swiss, Germans and Thais. This dynamic group has been providing emergency aid for more than six months to people particularly affected by the current crisis. During a visit to Koh Samui, Ambassador Helene Budliger Artieda accompanied the volunteers on one of their missions and helped distribute food and basic necessities. The Embassy of Switzerland is pleased to support Team Samui and thus contribute to this project.

During a visit to Chiang Mai Province in August 2020, Ambassador Helene Budliger Artieda and seven women Ambassadors from Turkey, Kazakhstan, Austria, Egypt, Brazil, India and Colombia took the opportunity to learn more about Chiang Mai. The Ambassadors met with the Governor of Chiang Mai and visited several environmental and health projects of the best universities in the province. Ambassador Budliger Artieda also visited four NGOs supported by our Embassy.

Photo credits: Switzerland Tourism, Valerie, ToGather Weddings Copyrights: David&Kathrin

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Citizens who are in possession of a valid «Non-Immigrant O (Retirement) Visa and a «Re-Entry Permit» can now re-enter Thailand!

All important information can be found on the website of the Thai Embassy in Bern. Under point 11 you will find detailed instructions on how to apply for a "Certificate of Entry" or a new visa.

Please check carefully which documents are required to obtain a «Certificate of Entry».

If your visa has expired or you are not in possession of a re-entry permit, you can apply for a new visa non-immigrant O (retirement) at the Thai Embassy.

Ms. Annick Lussan

Since 1 July 2020, a new Swiss Consular Agency in Vientiane has been supporting the Regional Consular Centre in Bangkok, which is responsible for Laos.

This Consular Agency is located within the Swiss Cooperation Office. We would therefore like to thank the Cooperation Office and its Director, Mr. Jean-François Cuénod, for welcoming this consular agency under its roof.

Ms. Annick Lussan, who started to assume her new consular responsibilities on 01.07.2020, is looking forward to welcoming you to the agency and supporting you in your consular procedures. Ms. Lussan is an additional point of contact on site and takes over the tasks of Honorary Consul Mr. Daovone Phachanthavong, who ended his duties on 30 June 2020.

We are convinced that this will contribute to further strengthen the ties with the Swiss community in Laos!

The Swiss Embassy in Bangkok remains responsible for Swiss citizens in Laos, with the support of the Swiss Consular Agency in Vientiane. For regular consular matters, please contact the Swiss Consular Agency in Vientiane: vte.consularagency@eda.admin.ch.

Since November 1, 2020, you can book your appointment online at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangkok! This new system for consular services aims to provide the best possible service, with shorter waiting times while making it easier to contact the Embassy. To book an appointment, click on this link.

Thailand has recently ratified the Convention on Road Traffic, which was concluded in Vienna on 8 November 1968. The Convention will enter into force in Thailand on 1 May 2021. Switzerland has also ratified this Convention - What does this mean in practice? It means that Swiss citizens who are on a short-term tourist trip to Thailand will be able to drive vehicles with their international driving license. We would like to remind you that Swiss citizens residing permanently or for a long period of time in Thailand must continue to exchange their Swiss driving license for a Thai driving license.

During the first months of the COVID-19 crisis, the Swiss Embassy in Bangkok organized five charter flights to allow persons stranded in the region to return to Switzerland. These flights departed from Bangkok, Phuket, Yangon, Phnom Penh and Vientiane. A total of 1081 passengers benefited from this operation to return to their homes in Switzerland or continue on in Europe.

Watch the video of this action on our Facebook page!