Monaco and Switzerland: convergences creating new economic opportunities
The Monaco Economic Board hosted a significant Swiss delegation at MonacoTech on 29 May, uniting the France-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI France Suisse), the Swiss Business Hub France, and various business support experts. This marked the final stage of their roadshow exploring business opportunities in Switzerland, organised in collaboration with the Swiss Embassy in France and Monaco, the Consulate General of Switzerland in Marseille, and the Swiss Consulate in Monaco.
After visiting Strasbourg, Lyon, Paris, and Marseille, the tour concluded in Monaco before an audience of over sixty Monegasque business leaders and entrepreneurs. They were joined by representatives from the Sophia Antipolis and Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Area ecosystems, as part of their economic cooperation partnership with the MEB.
This event directly followed the economic mission to Switzerland organised by the Monaco Economic Board last March. It emphasised a shared determination to develop further exchanges between the two territories, whose complementarities are becoming increasingly apparent.
The day took place in the presence of Christophe Vauthey, Consul General of Switzerland in Marseille and Monaco, Luca Comparato, Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Monaco, and numerous representatives of Monegasque institutions and administrations, all keen to demonstrate their interest in strengthening economic relations between the Principality and the Swiss Confederation.
“Why haven’t we achieved more together, given how much we have in common and the potential to build?” wondered one of the Swiss participants at the networking dinner hosted by the Swiss authorities the previous evening. Guillaume Rose, the CEO of the MEB, began the day by echoing this question.
Throughout the discussions, speakers highlighted numerous points of convergence between Switzerland and Monaco: a culture of excellence, reliability, stability, international openness, and a strong capacity for innovation.
The Consul General of Switzerland in Marseille and Monaco, Christophe Vauthey, notably recalled that Switzerland had just been ranked, for the second year running, the world’s most innovative country by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
Designed to provide practical insights into opportunities in the Swiss market, the various morning sessions enabled participants to exchange views with experts and business leaders already established in the country. Round tables and testimonials addressed Switzerland’s economic and regulatory environment, market entry strategies, the most promising sectors and the intercultural aspects to consider when developing business there.
Speakers also highlighted Switzerland’s key strengths: political stability, legal certainty, competitive and transparent taxation, high-quality infrastructure, and an exceptional ability to attract talent and investment. These qualities are particularly compelling in Monaco.
A clear example of the importance of this closer relationship is the integration of Swiss start-up GaiaTech into the MonacoTech accelerator, where it shared its experience during a round table, emphasising the complementarity between the two ecosystems.
The afternoon was dedicated to approximately twenty personalised, one-on-one meetings, allowing participating companies to receive advice tailored to their development projects. Lawyers, chartered accountants, tax specialists, bankers, HR experts, and representatives from cantonal economic development agencies all came together to answer entrepreneurs’ questions and support their planning.
With 1,300 Swiss residents in Monaco, the Principality’s fourth-largest foreign community, the two countries already share a culture of excellence and reliability. This event represents a further step in strengthening enduring economic ties between the Principality and Switzerland.
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Press contacts: Benoît Ulrich / Delphine Quilichini – presse@meb.mc
Photo credits: MEB
