A country analysis grid

Read the PDF edition (2 pages)

The principles are applied country by country, with the help of an analysis grid that structures the examination. It combines governance indicators, financial indicators, compliance indicators and indicators specific to the institution’s own activity.

Dimension	Indicators	Sources
Governance and stability	political stability, changes of government, judicial independence, press freedom	international indices, Geneva missions, local press
Financial situation	debt, rating, reserves, exchange controls, arrears	IMF, World Bank, rating agencies
Compliance	FATF evaluation, sanctions, perceived corruption, judicial cooperation	FATF, SECO, OFAC, Transparency International
Sector concerned	governance of state-owned companies, transparency of contracts, membership of the EITI	EITI, NRGI, sector reports
Exposure of the institution	volume, concentration, intermediaries, politically exposed persons	internal data
Warning signs	changes of regime, investigations, defaults, withdrawal of correspondent banks	monitoring, networks, Geneva organisations

Without producing any automatic decision, the grid organises judgement. A country with poor scores on several dimensions is not necessarily excluded: it may justify a limited exposure, enhanced conditions and close monitoring. A country with good scores is not without risk, since changes of regime strike stable states too. The grid must be reviewed every year and at every significant event. Its conclusions must be documented in accordance with Principle 6.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

English

Contact

Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

Get in touch →

A country analysis grid

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?