African Companies

Companies and investors from Africa trade, bank and hold assets through Switzerland, and a growing number of projects on the continent are structured through Swiss companies. The articles collected here explain the questions that matter most to them: Swiss project, holding and trading vehicles, the choice between Zug and Geneva, the tax and investment treaties between Switzerland and African states, export quotas and state participation, stablecoins in trade with China, sanctions and export controls, and the new transparency and anti-money laundering rules. They are written for African companies, state-linked entities and their Asian partners.

Switzerland and Africa

Switzerland is one of Africa's most important partners in commodity trading and finance. Swiss companies are increasingly used as neutral vehicles in African infrastructure, energy and mining projects that involve Chinese, Gulf and European partners, because they allow sponsors from several regions to cooperate within a single, well-understood legal framework.

Swiss vehicles are attractive for such projects because they combine a reliable legal system, access to international banks, experienced arbitration institutions and a stable currency. For partners from different continents, a Swiss company can provide a neutral meeting ground on which governance, shareholder rights and dispute resolution are defined in a way that all parties can accept.

Key questions for African projects

Project sponsors should first examine whether a double taxation agreement or an investment protection treaty exists between Switzerland and the countries concerned, since such treaties influence withholding taxes, the protection of investments and the options for dispute settlement. They should also consider local content requirements, foreign exchange rules and the role of state-owned partners in the host country.

Compliance expectations are high on all sides. Banks, financiers and buyers will examine beneficial ownership, the origin of funds, the risk of corruption in licensing and procurement, and exposure to sanctions and export controls. A project company that documents its structure and its decision-making from the outset will find it considerably easier to open accounts, secure financing and attract reputable partners.

In this section

The articles explain Swiss project and trading vehicles, the choice between Zug and Geneva, the treaties with African states, export quotas and state participation, stablecoins in trade with China, sanctions and export controls, and the new transparency rules.

AML and Compliance · New Law

From 1 October 2026: the transparency register and the revised Anti-Money Laundering Act

On 1 October 2026 the Federal Act on the Transparency of Legal Entities and the revision of the Anti-Money Laundering… Read more Africa · Export Control

Defence and security goods for Africa: what a Swiss company can and cannot do

African military spending is growing, and new suppliers from China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are gaining market share. Read more Africa · Sanctions

Chinese shareholders, US sanctions and the BIS Affiliates Rule

A Swiss company with Chinese shareholders that does business in Africa has to consider three sets of rules: Swiss sanctions,… Read more Africa · Digital Assets

Stablecoins in the trade between Africa and China

In the trade between Africa and China, payment in stablecoins is already common practice. African importers who cannot obtain enough… Read more Africa · Contracts and Disputes

Contracting in Africa: export quotas, processing requirements and state participation

African governments are using their mineral resources more actively than a decade ago. They set export quotas, require local processing… Read more Africa · Tax Treaties

Switzerland's tax and investment treaties with African states