Mayor Johnny Maycon
Senator Romário de Souza Faria
Deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante
Ambassador Maria Luisa Escorel de Moraes
Ambassador Laudemar Gonçalves de Aguiar Neto
Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri
Representatives of the Government of Rio de Janeiro and of Nova Friburgo

Ladies and Gentlemen

Bom dia!

Thank you very much for receiving me here in Nova Friburgo.

As you know, this city was the first settlement for the Swiss immigrants who came to Brazil in 1819 and 1820 looking for hope and a better future. Most of the settlers came from the Swiss canton of Fribourg, in honour of which the city was named Nova Friburgo.

I was told that this region reminded these settlers of the Swiss Alps. I was able to admire the impressive landscape during the car ride up here – and I now understand their feeling!

In Switzerland, we also celebrate this Swiss-Brazilian legacy. In May 2022, the City of Fribourg unveiled a bronze plaque dedicated to the Fribourg citizens who emigrated to Nova Friburgo.

And last July, the Brazilian Congress passed a law granting the municipality of Nova Friburgo the title Suíça Brasileira.

I am particularly honoured that the proponents of this law, Deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante and Senator Romário de Souza Faria, are here with us today. They were both convinced that the traditions have been kept alive through gastronomic festivals and fairs, and that the Suíça Brasileira label would promote tourism and economic activity – and as you can see from my presence here today, they were right!
Thank you, Excellencies!

Switzerland and Brazil not only share historical ties but have also developed diverse and intensive bilateral relations.

I am convinced that with the conclusion of the EFTA–Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, we can further strengthen our economic partnership.

I would also like to congratulate Brazil for hosting the COP30 this year in Belém, and for its long-standing commitment to the fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversity.

Indeed, Brazil has played a leading role in this work, which all started here at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Switzerland has a long-standing commitment to sustainability – also in Brazil. Our two countries work together through extensive bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation.

For example, Switzerland recognises the uniqueness and importance of the Amazon Rainforest and contributes to the Amazon Fund.

I am pleased to shed light on another historical connection – this time to the Amazon:
Swiss naturalists and artists were among the pioneers in the research and the artistic representation of this important ecosystem.

The exhibition we brought here today is entitled The Swiss-Brazilian Heritage in the Amazon: Art, Science and Sustainability.

It highlights the life and impact of the work of Swiss naturalist Emílio Goeldi, who arrived in Brazil in 1880 to contribute to the study of Amazonian biodiversity.

It also tells the story of Emílio’s son, the modernist artist Oswaldo Goeldi.
And it is a great honour for us to have the exhibition's curator Lani Goeldi here today to guide us through it.

Ms Goeldi is the director of the Oswaldo Goeldi Artistic and Cultural Association, and the great-granddaughter of Emílio Goeldi!

Vernissage of the exhibition The Swiss-Brazilian Heritage in the Amazon: Art, Science and Sustainability