Get Together #92

Monthly Get-together of December 2020 One week later as initially planned, 44 members of the SSB joined the Christmas dinner at the Swiss restaurant Chesa at Sukhumvit soi 20. The increased interest in this gathering was, of course, due to the Swiss ambassador’s presentation. In her introduction, Helene Budliger Artieda underlined the importance of organizations such as the SSB and the other Swiss society groups in the country which play an active role in the contact between the embassy and the Swiss community in Thailand. The overview of her main activities and responsibilities as an ambassador she started with a historical excursion. With this she explained that the coming year 2021 will be important as the celebration of 90 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Thailand will be high on the agenda. As the SSB will also get 90 years old in 2021, it was mentioned that some of the activities will be coordinated between the embassy and the SSB. The ambassador distributed a very useful factsheet to all participants presenting many figures which should be used when we, Swiss people living in Thailand and sometimes acting as “ambassadors”, are asked questions about Switzerland, and particularly about relations between Switzerland and Thailand. Her address the ambassador underlined repeatedly that one of her priority is the proximity with the Swiss people in the countries she is covering, which include Cambodia and Lao PDR. In the Q and A part which followed the address of Mrs Helene Budliger Artieda actual problems related with the Covid-19 situation and questions about economical issues were dominant. It was also mentioned that online voting for Swiss living abroad might be a possibility soon again. Like last year, a delicious Christmas dinner with Nüssli salad, Fondue Chinoise and Crème Brulée was served after the presentation of our ambassador.