Page 59 - NYAA Annual Report 2023

• Swiss Delegation Call on Minister for
Manpower
In November 2023, the delegation from the St. Gallen
Symposium visited Singapore. During their visit, NYAA
facilitated a meeting between the delegation and Dr
Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second
Minister for Trade and Industry, at the Ministry of
Manpower.

Mr. Beat Ulrich, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Gallen
Symposium, briefed Minister Tan on the upcoming
2024 symposium, focusing on “Confronting Scarcity.”
During the meeting, Mr. Ulrich formally invited
Minister Tan to attend the 53rd St. Gallen Symposium
in 2024, presenting him with an official invitation
letter from the Chairman of the Symposium. Minister
Tan graciously accepted the invitation.

• Visit to Singapore by the President-
Designate of St. Gallen University
In November 2023, St. Gallen University’s President,
Prof Bernhard Ehrenzeller, and President-designate,
Prof. Manuel Ammann, visited Singapore. During their
visit, Prof. Ehrenzeller thanked the NYAA Executive
Director for the longstanding and fruitful partnership
between NYAA and St. Gallen University, spanning 23
years.

Prof Ehrenzeller also introduced Prof Manuel
Ammann, who is set to assume the presidency in
2024. Prof Ammann pledged his continued support
for NYAA and expressed enthusiasm for strengthening
the collaboration between St. Gallen University and
NYAA in the coming year.

• Visit of Dr. Hannes Schmid, Founder of
Smiling Gecko of Switzerland
Dr. Hannes Schmid has dedicated his life to combating
extreme poverty in Cambodia. Despite more than 40
years since the fall of Pol Pot’s brutal regime, Cambodia
continues to bear lasting scars and remains one of the
most underdeveloped countries in Asia. A significant
portion of the rural population lives in severe, all-
consuming poverty. As the founder of Smiling Gecko
of Switzerland, Dr. Schmid has spearheaded numerous
direct aid projects and financial assistance initiatives
to support children and their families in need.

During his visit to Singapore for the STAR Conference
in June 2023, Dr. Schmid met with the NYAA Executive
Director. In their meeting, Dr Schmid provided a
comprehensive briefing on the dire conditions faced
by Cambodian children and appealed to NYAA to help
raise awareness about their plight. He urged NYAA to
encourage support and engagement to alleviate the
suffering of these vulnerable communities.

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