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Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce Launches Task Force to Raise Funds for Relief Operations
5 October 2009 - The Philippine Embassy in Berne reported to the
Department of Foreign Affairs that the Swiss business community is
shocked over the devastating effects of the natural disasters which
have hit Asia in the last few days, including tropical storm “Ketsana”
which has hit the Philippines and other countries, the tsunami and the
earthquakes in Indonesia.
The Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC), which joins the Swiss
companies active in Asia, set up a task force to support relief
operations in the Philippines and Indonesia. Members of the SACC active
locally have already committed efforts worth in excess of CHF300,000
and thousands of their employees are active on the ground.
The SACC “Taskforce Asia” is directly raising funds with the Swiss
member companies of the SACC, and spontaneous reactions have raised
well over 100,000 Swiss Francs within hours. The SACC supports the
fund-raising activities of Swiss Solidarity.
The SACC task force is cooperating closely with the Swiss Solidarity
Foundation and supports the current fund-raising campaign of Swiss
Solidarity. All contributions from SACC members will be used according
to proven criteria by Swiss Solidarity and its partner organizations in
the areas affected.
The SACC aims to provide sustainable long-term relief to the people
affected by the tropical storm “Ketsana” in the Philippines (locally
known as “Ondoy”) as well as to earthquake victims in Sumatra
(Indonesia). Its main objective will be reconstruction, i.e. to support
the affected communities to rebuild their homes.
The SACC Taskforce Asia was set up by Philippine Ambassador to
Switzerland H.E. Maria Theresa P. Lazaro and Martin Kurer, Chairman of
the SACC’s Philippine Chapter, and in close cooperation with, among
others, Indonesian Ambassador to Switzerland Lucia Helwinda Rustam and
the coordinator appointed by the Philippine-Swiss Business Council,
Manila, Mr. Reiner Gloor.
The task force is supported by SACC members and various other Swiss
companies and charities active in the Philippines and Indonesia. KPMG
has offered to audit its operations.
For further information about the SACC task force as well as for direct contacts to residents in the area:
Dr. Martin Kurer, LL.M
Member of the SACC Taskforce Asia
Chairman of the SACC Philippine Chapter
Phone: +41 44 220 12 12
Mobile +41794030556
Email: kurer@pbklaw.ch
or:
Wolfgang Weber-Thedy
Member of the SACC Taskforce Asia for Communications
Weber-Thedy, Corporate & Financial Communications
Phone: +41 44 266 15 86
Email: wolfgang.weber-thedy@weber-thedy.com
For further information about the SACC: pls visit www.sacc.ch
For further information about the activities of the SACC Taskforce Asia: www.taskforceasia.ch
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