Message from the Executive Director - June 2021
The year 2021 seems to be going the same way as 2020, online meetings are the norm again in Thailand and while some areas are already easing up restrictions, the Bangkok region will have to wait some more time. As you can read this in every newspaper and on social media, I will leave it to the journalists and experts to provide you with the updated case numbers and the measures being taken by the government.
Vaccination Plans
The only thing I would like to comment on here is in relation to the large-scale vaccination programme that Thailand is about to launch. We have been lobbying the government both through the JFCCT and through our embassy to ensure that foreigners and Thais are treated equally in this regard. We were therefore glad to hear that Thailand plans to allow foreigners to register for vaccinations starting on June 7, although there is still uncertainty about when such vaccines will be administered. Since vaccines are in short supply on a global level, I think we all need to be patient. I personally follow the German proverb of “Abwarten und Tee trinken”. (Note: This is a German proverb that can be translated as: wait and see attitude). We will keep sharing relevant information in this regard with you once it reaches us.
STCC Office Solution
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Good news should not be neglected at this time either, and so it is my pleasure to inform you that the Swiss-Thai Chamber of Commerce will soon be moving to the city centre! After many months of discussions and preparations in the background and an extraordinary effort by our ambassador, her team as well as multiple departments of the Swiss government, we have managed to find an office solution for us on the Embassy premises.
Following tradition and underlining our mission as a chamber of commerce, we will set up an office in a shipping container on the compound. The planning and implementation of this project was entrusted to our member regroup architecture, who has already worked with the embassy on several projects in recent years. Their experience when it comes to converting freight containers into an office building is a great asset for this project.
To give you a visual idea of what this office will look like, I have attached two project drawings. The interior construction of the container is about to start and we expect the office to be ready for us to move in by August. In the next issue of the Newsletter we will provide you with a detailed status update, so stay tuned!
New Silver Partner
I would like to express my gratitude to Kyburz Asia, our newest member. Not only have they decided to become a member of the STCC, but they have also signed on as a Silver Partner of the Chamber for one year to support our operations even further.
Kyburz Asia is a subsidiary of Kyburz Switzerland, a company that most of you will not have heard much about, but if you have ever lived in or visited Switzerland, you will most likely have seen their product. Kyburz produces a variety of electric vehicles, one of which (e-trike) is used by Swiss Post for last-mile delivery of mail and parcels. As Thailand is expected to become one of the most important markets and production locations for e-vehicles in the coming years in ASEAN, Kyburz has decided to expand its activities to Asia and support to achieve this vision. We are excited to learn about their upcoming journey in the Thai and ASEAN markets!
If your company is also interested in benefiting from the many advantages of our Elite Partner Programme, please contact me!
Upcoming Events
As the current situation does not allow for face-to-face meetings and events, we will continue to provide you with interesting webinars and online content to spice up your home office working hours! We are currently planning in person events only after the summer break, starting around mid-July. If the situation improves significantly before that time, we will reassess this decision.
Stay healthy and stay safe!
David Stauffacher
Executive Director