Ambassador-designate Thomas Oertle
Dr. Thomas Oertle has been appointed Ambassador-designate of Switzerland to the Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Togo.
Ambassador Oertle brings extensive experience in diplomacy and international cooperation to his new role.
Prior to his appointment, he served as Switzerland’s Head of Mission in Muscat, responsible for the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Yemen.
He previously served as Regional Head for Swiss International Cooperation in the Horn of Africa, based in Nairobi and covering Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, as Head of the Middle East and North Africa Division of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Bern, and as Deputy Head of Mission and subsequently Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland in Damascus, with responsibilities covering Syria and Iraq.
Before joining the diplomatic service, Ambassador Oertle studied Molecular Biology and Neuroscience at ETH Zurich and the Neuroscience Center Zurich, where he obtained a doctorate in Natural Sciences.
Speaking about his new assignment, Ambassador Oertle said he looks forward to strengthening Switzerland’s longstanding partnerships with Ghana, Benin and Togo through dialogue and closer engagement across government, business, academia, civil society and culture.
“Diplomacy is ultimately about people. I want to listen to different perspectives, bring people and ideas together, and identify areas where Switzerland and its partners can pursue common interests,” he said. Switzerland enjoys longstanding and diverse relations with Ghana, Benin and Togo.
These partnerships encompass political dialogue, trade and investment, economic cooperation, climate action, peace and security, as well as growing exchanges between people and institutions.
Switzerland is committed to developing these relationships further on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests.
A Daily Guide Report