During the economic mission organised by the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) in Zurich from 11 to 13 March, several key figures from Monaco’s financial sector exchanged views with their Swiss counterparts. Antoine Massiera and Pierre Guilleman, Wealth Managers at CMB Monaco; Alexandre Al Suleiman, legal advisor at Monaco Private Advisory MFO; Mr Nguyen-Duc, Senior Private Banker at Barclays Monaco; as well as Frédéric Pham, Private Banker; and Cédric Koeppel, Wealth Management Engineer at Edmond de Rothschild Monaco. They provide insightful feedback, highlighting the similarity of the models and the potential for cooperation between two financial centres of excellence.
This mission brought together a delegation representing the Monegasque ecosystem, comprising financial, legal and institutional stakeholders. Pierre Guilleman (CMB Monaco) explains : “ We set off with the MEB, which structured the mission around a framework that was both protocol-based and highly operational.” Participants were thus able to engage with diplomatic representatives, including Monaco’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Ms Carole Lanteri, as well as leading institutions such as Swiss Global Enterprise and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce.
Pierre Guilleman (CMB) adds:“ “We met with institutional players, but also private sector players: lawyers, asset managers and other banking institutions. It is particularly interesting to compare perspectives, both with members of the Monegasque delegation and with Swiss professionals with whom collaborations may be envisaged.” Mr Nguyen-Duc (Barclays) confirms: “We mainly met with lawyers and accountants, with whom we explored various opportunities and potential synergies.”
Alexandre Al Suleiman (Monaco Private Advisory) emphasises: “The joint presence of legal, financial and institutional players enabled us to address issues from a cross-disciplinary perspective, which is essential in our professions where challenges are often multi-dimensional.” ” Cédric Koeppel (Edmond de Rothschild Monaco) also confirms the value of this cross-disciplinary format : “As part of our wealth engineering activities, we regularly meet with finance and legal professionals abroad so that we can refer our clients to qualified contacts. This trip was particularly valuable as it allowed us to meet as many Swiss law firms as possible in a very short time.”
One of the highlights of the mission was the organisation of B2B meetings in a dynamic format, fostering direct and targeted exchanges, which highlighted a notable convergence of practices between Zurich and Monaco. Antoine Massiera (CMB) emphasises: “In a short format, we were able to get straight to the point: understanding our counterparts’ activities and quickly identifying areas for cooperation. We share the same approach, with a strong client focus. The aim is to gain an in-depth understanding of needs and to support our clients over the long term. ” Pierre Guilleman (CMB) confirms: “We serve a highly international clientele facing complex issues, and we have found extremely similar characteristics in Switzerland.” Alexandre Al Suleiman (Monaco Private Advisory) adds: “particularly in terms of international wealth structuring. This greatly facilitates dialogue and the implementation of coordinated solutions across jurisdictions.
Monaco is perceived as a stable, transparent and efficient jurisdiction, making it a natural hub for international clients with multi-jurisdictional interests.” Mr Nguyen-Duc (Barclays) confirms:“It has been interesting to note the strong potential for synergies between the two markets from a business development perspective.” ” Frédéric Pham (Edmond de Rothschild Monaco) also notes this proximity between client bases and wealth management issues: “Switzerland, and more specifically Zurich, is an essential hub for global private banking. For Monegasque financial players, it is important to deepen their understanding of the German-speaking Swiss market, which remains different from Geneva and less familiar.”
The discussions also provided an opportunity to address major trends in the sector, particularly regarding innovation and the structuring of financial offerings. Pierre Guillemant and Antoine Massiera (CMB) emphasise: “Switzerland has established itself as one of the world’s leading wealth management hubs, with fundamentals that resonate strongly with those of the Monegasque financial centre. We observed a remarkable ecosystem there, driven by sustained investment in economic promotion, academic research and industrial innovation – all areas in which Switzerland ranks among the world leaders. This mission also enabled us to highlight the breadth of our offering: wealth management, private equity, property financing, and sustainable investment solutions, which are now establishing themselves as a key strategic focus.” Mr Nguyen-Duc (Barclays) adds: “Discussions focused primarily on wealth management and property investment opportunities in Monaco.” Alexandre Al Suleiman (Monaco Private Advisory) puts this into perspective: “In the Principality, the capacity for innovation is accompanied by an extremely well-structured legal framework, which is a major asset. This reinforces the credibility of the solutions offered to international clients. ” Frédéric Pham (Edmond de Rothschild Monaco) – also highlights the strategic importance of deepening relations with the Zurich financial centre: “It is important for Monegasque financial players to deepen their understanding of the ecosystem in German-speaking Switzerland, which is a major hub for consolidating international client bases.”
At the conclusion of this mission, one conclusion stands out: the financial centres of Zurich and Monaco appear less as competitors and more as deeply complementary. Frédéric Pham and Cédric Koeppel (Edmond de Rothschild Monaco) also confirm the growing interest in the Principality shown by the Swiss counterparts met during the mission: “We observed enquiries and questions regarding the Monaco financial centre in terms of relocation and diversification. This visit enabled us to highlight the specific features of the Monegasque ecosystem and the associated expertise. The calibre of the speakers we met, as well as the cohesion of the Monegasque delegation, contributed significantly to the success of this mission.” ” Antoine Massiera and Pierre Guilleman (CMB) analyse : “There is a deep and natural complementarity between our two centres: certain Swiss areas of expertise enrich our offering, just as ours can enrich theirs. We count among our clients many international entrepreneurs with complex wealth management issues, and both Monaco and Switzerland possess recognised expertise to address these precisely.
What struck us was the speed with which dialogue was established: once the human connection is made, synergies develop naturally and are built to last.” Alexandre Al Suleiman (Monaco Private Advisory) emphasises that in Monaco: “The similarity of professional practices and standards makes it possible to envisage effective collaborations within a secure framework for clients.” According to Mr Nguyen-Duc (Barclays): “The two cities share key characteristics — major wealth management centres, political and economic stability, security and attractive property markets — which create natural synergies between Zurich and Monaco.”
Frédéric Pham (Edmond de Rothschild Monaco) also confirms the growing interest in the Principality shown by the Swiss counterparts met during the mission: “We noted enquiries and questions regarding Monaco’s position in terms of relocation and diversification. This trip provided an opportunity to highlight the specific features of the Monegasque ecosystem and the associated expertise.” Finally, he emphasises the quality of the professional interactions organised in Zurich: “The calibre of the speakers we met, as well as the cohesion of the Monegasque delegation, contributed significantly to the success of this mission.”
Antoine Massiera (CMB) concludes:
“This mission has reinforced our conviction that exchanges between our two financial centres deserve to be deepened, including for professionals who are already familiar with the Swiss market. It is not simply a matter of cooperating on an ad hoc basis, but of building solid and lasting relationships, founded on mutual trust and genuinely shared interests.”
