With a career spanning three decades, Swiss Ambassador to the UAE and Bahrain, HE Arthur Mattli, brings a wealth of experience from various regions. In his first exclusive interview since receiving his credentials from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, he takes Kristian Harrison on a deep dive into the nuances of diplomacy, the challenges and opportunities ahead, and his aspirations for fostering stronger ties between Switzerland and Bahrain.
Your Excellency, welcome to Bahrain. Could you start by telling us about your diplomatic career and how it has led you to your current position?
Thank you for having me. I began my diplomatic career 30 years ago, starting in our capital, Bern, before being deployed to the Swiss Mission to the European Union. Although Switzerland is not a member of the EU, our economic ties are so close that it’s crucial to have that experience. After that, I learned Chinese and was deployed to Beijing, where I headed the economic section of our embassy. Over the years, I’ve served in various regions, including Africa as the Deputy Ambassador to Kenya and then Asia in the same role in India. I went back to Bern as Assistant Secretary of State for Europe, Central Asia, Council of Europe and OSCE.
From there I went back to East Africa with a stint in Tanzania, before moving to Romania and now finally the UAE, where I am based at the embassy whilst also performing my ambassadorial duties for Bahrain.
How do you manage the dynamic of covering two different countries?
It’s indeed a unique setup, but one that works well. We have a Swiss Honorary Consul here in Bahrain who assists with immediate matters. Additionally, there are frequent direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, making it easy for me to travel here whenever necessary. In fact, sometimes it’s quicker to reach Bahrain from Abu Dhabi than to travel within the UAE! This allows me to maintain a strong presence in both countries and address any issues that may arise promptly.
How would you describe the current state of bilateral relations between Switzerland and Bahrain?
If I were to conduct a diplomatic health check, I would say our relations are very good. They are longstanding and continue to be very relevant. His Majesty King Hamad has expressed his fondness for Switzerland, which reflects the strong personal ties between our nations. Economically, both countries share a commitment to financial excellence and renewable energy, particularly in the post-COP28 era. We also share similar concerns about climate change, with Bahrain facing rising sea levels and Switzerland experiencing the melting of glaciers. These shared challenges provide a foundation for deeper cooperation.
Speaking of climate change and renewable energy, what can Switzerland offer Bahrain in these areas, and vice-versa?
The key lies in combining finance with environmental concerns, which we refer to as green finance. Never before in human history have we had so much money available for green projects. The challenge now is finding sufficient bankable green projects to fund. We need to work together to develop these projects, ensuring they are viable for both public and private investment. In Switzerland, for example, we’ve moved from landfills to zero-waste incinerators, which not only generate energy but also recover valuable materials like gold and copper. We can share this technology and expertise with Bahrain to help address waste management challenges.
What are your short-term and long-term goals for your ambassadorship in Bahrain?
In the short term, I aim to identify and assist with areas where Switzerland can offer its expertise, such as waste management. For example, I recently met with Bahrain’s Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture to discuss our zero-waste incineration technology that I have just mentioned. In the long term, I hope to foster stronger economic ties by attracting Swiss small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest in Bahrain. Switzerland has a strong SME sector, and bringing these top-edge companies to Bahrain could greatly benefit the local economy.
What do you foresee as your greatest challenge during your tenure?
Attracting those SMEs to Bahrain will likely be the biggest challenge. Over 90 percent of Swiss industries are SMEs, and they are highly innovative and technologically advanced. The challenge is creating an ecosystem in Bahrain that is attractive to these companies, enabling them to invest and thrive here. If we can achieve that, it would be a significant accomplishment.
Can you provide an overview of the current trade relationship between Bahrain and Switzerland?
Currently, Switzerland exports about USD322 million worth of goods to Bahrain annually, while Bahrain exports approximately USD38 million to Switzerland. The main Swiss exports to Bahrain include jewellery, watches, pharmaceuticals and machinery. On the other hand, Bahrain exports gemstones and jewellery to Switzerland. While there is a trade imbalance, our goal is to create a more balanced relationship by increasing Bahrain’s exports to Switzerland, particularly in sectors where Bahrain has a competitive edge.
Cultural exchange and tourism are also important aspects of diplomacy. How do you plan to promote Swiss culture and tourism in Bahrain?
I’m fortunate to have a Swiss tourism promotion office in Dubai that also covers Bahrain. They work closely with local tour operators to promote Switzerland as a tourist destination. We are seeing increasing numbers of tourists from Bahrain and the wider Gulf region. On the cultural side, I recently had a fruitful meeting with the President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. Bahrain has a rich cultural heritage spanning a number of civilisations that can be further developed and promoted, not just through large museums but also through smaller, human-sized attractions that resonate with tourists’ curiosity and love for discovery.
What message would you like to send to the Swiss community in Bahrain?
I have already reached out to the Swiss community here and plan to continue doing so. It’s important for me to meet with them, listen to their stories and understand their experiences. I see my role as not just a representative of Switzerland but also as a supporter of the Swiss community abroad. I encourage them to share their successes and challenges with me so that I can assist them in any way possible.
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to add?
I would love to see more development in maritime tourism in the region. Bahrain has a rich history of sailing and connectivity through its waters, whether through fishing, pearling or otherwise, and I believe there is great potential to attract tourists with experiences centred on this maritime heritage. Why not offer sea tours on dhows or create a maritime museum? It’s an area that is not yet fully explored, but one that I think could be very appealing, especially to Swiss tourists who appreciate such unique cultural experiences.
