The conditions for success

The new bridges between Geneva and Africa will bear fruit only under certain conditions.

The first is consistency. A financial centre that hosts the forums of the African private sector, that invests in impact finance and that returns illicit assets cannot, without contradiction, tolerate corrupt practices in commodity trading or insufficient vigilance in wealth management. The affairs described in Parts H and I destroy the credibility of such commitments.

The second is reciprocity. Lasting relations presuppose that Africa benefits from them: local processing of raw materials, investment that creates jobs, transfer of skills, a fair sharing of value. The partner model, described in Chapter II, must prevail over the buyer model.

The third is knowledge. Africa is a continent of fifty-four states, with diverse histories, institutions, languages and economies. The federal strategies insist on this diversity. Geneva’s operators must understand it, country by country, which requires skills, networks and a presence on the ground.

The fourth is patience. Investment in Africa demands long horizons, a tolerance for uncertainty and the capacity to weather crises. Geneva’s tradition of the long term, described in connection with private banking, finds an application here.

The fifth, finally, is openness to African players. African companies, banks, funds and entrepreneurs are partners, competitors and clients. Geneva must welcome them as it welcomed, over the centuries, the Italian merchants, the Huguenot refugees and the international organisations.

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 →

The conditions for success

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?