Message from the Executive Director - October 2021
Latest information from the Chamber by the Executive Director
As we now enter Q4 2021, I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. The number of cases in Thailand is decreasing and the measures are gradually being relaxed. Now I hope that the borders to the Kingdom will be opened within the next two months, so that business and holiday travellers can enter once again without quarantine. In the meantime, as we await such positive announcements, I will update you below on the latest developments in our Chamber:
Office Project Completed!
After several delays related to Covid, I am pleased to announce that our office on the premises of the Swiss Embassy in Thailand is ready. As you can see from the picture accompanying this foreword, I am already working full time in this office and I can report that this innovative office concept offers a very pleasant workplace. The large windows give you the feeling of working directly in the beautiful garden of the Embassy. A detailed construction report will be published in the next issue of the newsletter and on our website.
With this new office, our Chamber has reached a big milestone in its 23 years of existence. The office has space for up to 3 staff members who will work to increase the value of your membership in our Chamber, push advocacy with Thai institutions on behalf of our members and increase our activities. This was only made possible by our office sponsors, to whom I would like to express my sincere thanks:
An official opening will hopefully take place towards the end of the year when the restrictions on in-person events have been lifted. This leads me to the next point:
Upcoming Events
We are currently carefully monitoring the situation and regulations regarding in-person events. We still have some STCC events on our agenda for this year, as well as the traditional Tri-Nation Networking Stamm and our STCC networking evening at the Residence of the Swiss Ambassador. However, in order to allow such events, a change in the current regulations is needed. As soon as such a relaxation of the regulations is announced, I will start detailed planning for these events and inform you in good time.
In the meantime, I will do my best to introduce you to interesting and relevant webinars either organised by the STCC or supported by our office. If your company is planning an online event that you would like to share with other members, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Office staff
I regret to inform you that our intern Napat Prompat, who has been looking after the social media channels and communications for the last two months, has been hired by another company and has left our Chamber early before the end of his six-month internship. I wish him all the best for his future. This means that, until further notice, I will again perform all the duties of the Chamber.
Having said this, now that we have a functioning office with three workstations, the Board has decided that an additional full-time staff member should be hired for the Chamber by the end of the year/beginning of next year. This person would take care of all the communication aspects of the Chamber. So, if you know someone who would be interested and qualified to assist the Chamber as a Communications Officer, please do not hesitate to let them know about this vacancy at the Chamber. A detailed job profile will appear in the next issue of the newsletter.
This leads me to the last update that I would like to share with our members and readers:
New Format of the Newsletter
After many years of publishing our newsletter as a PDF file that could then be downloaded, we will be switching to a new email newsletter format from November onwards. Technological developments have made such a solution possible, and you will have noticed that most companies and associations nowadays opt for this format. Please note that there will be no advertisements in the November and December issues as we want to give you the opportunity to get to grips with the new format. From January there will be advertising opportunities again, for which we will provide you with the media kit at the beginning of November.
As you can see from the above, our Chamber is continuously growing and introducing new tools and benefits, always keeping our members' interests at heart, even in difficult times. I hope that these changes will benefit you and increase the value of membership in the STCC.
Best regards,
David Stauffacher
Executive Director