Thanks, Bob, I also had some additional ideas (for how to teach your granny sucking eggs). Are there any football players in Basle (you are in Basle, aren't you) from the country you want to work in? They don't need to be major celbreties, they still earn enough...
It also might be a way to get some celebrity exposure and possibily support, but then they might prefer to support charitites (another question I did not clarify, if you work for one.) Let yourself be invited to their embassy reception to get to know people that are in Switzerland, but still have close ties to their homecountries (since charitable giving is usually tax-exempt, business people sometimes like to get involved...)

But its hard work, that keeps you away from all the fun...