Switzerland Today: Swiss Abroad Congress Highlights Leadership Shifts and Sweet Connections
The recent Congress of Swiss Clubs in Lübeck brought together around one hundred Swiss Abroad, including 19 presidents of various Swiss clubs with voting rights. The event was marked by a significant change in leadership, with Sonja Lengning stepping in as chairman after Albert Küng’s sudden resignation. One of the key discussions centered around a proposed amendment to the Articles of Association, which would allow all Swiss citizens with voting rights in Germany to stand for election as delegates to the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA). Although no decision was reached at the Congress, the amendment is still under consideration.
Meanwhile, in Perugia, Italy, over 130 Swiss nationals gathered for the 85th congress of the Union of Swiss Associations. With 52,000 Swiss nationals currently residing in Italy, the Swiss community is growing, prompting the Swiss consular office to develop new strategies to better serve their needs. One potential strategy involves leveraging more artificial intelligence, such as implementing AI in the online help desk of the Swiss Foreign Ministry.
Perugia holds a special connection to Switzerland as the city of chocolate, housing a renowned chocolate factory owned by the Swiss Nestlé group. Rosa Maria Leggio, a former employee of a Swiss chocolate factory, shared insights into the success of Swiss chocolate, attributing it to the spirit of collaboration among major chocolate families like Suchard, Cailler, and Lindt.
The Congresses in Lübeck and Perugia not only shed light on leadership changes and strategic developments but also highlighted the strong bonds that unite the Swiss communities abroad. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, Swiss nationals are poised to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future.
