Press Release
Geneva, June 22, 2023
Famy Senegal and the CCIG, two entities with strong and shared values on the economic, social, societal and environmental levels have decided to collaborate to identify and support companies as well as projects with potential in their respective ecosystems. The objective is to boost trade while respecting the principles of sustainable development. Special monitoring will be put in place so that women benefit from the entrepreneurial opportunities resulting from this partnership.
In a difficult economic and geopolitical context, it is a question of betting on solid partnerships in an approach of collective mutual aid but also on the creation of ecosystems favorable to entrepreneurship and investment. This collaboration is perfectly aligned with Switzerland's new international cooperation policy aimed at strengthening its diplomatic and trade relations with Africa. Switzerland, which has been a member of the UN Security Council since the beginning of the year, thus proves its desire for openness, particularly towards West Africa. Famy SN and the CCIG have decided to combine their skills in order to offer sustainable and innovative solutions.
Concretely, it is a question of:
- Create a bridge and animate a community of African and Swiss industrial SMEs wishing to establish themselves in Africa and vice versa, but also solicit the African diaspora in Switzerland while offering them tools and opportunities adapted to business development on the continent. It will be a question of mobilizing companies from the fields of construction, hospitality, agro, water, health and fintechs with all the cross-cutting offered by digital and cybersecurity;
- Respond to major issues related to education on the African continent and resonate with major Swiss institutions while promoting collaboration and exchange within the French-speaking world (hotel schools, management schools, engineering schools, etc.
) ; - Facilitate bilateral funding programs and co-investment opportunities between International Geneva and Africa.
Famy SN and the CCIG will take advantage of both their field experience, their expertise and their respective networks to highlight Swiss and African skills in the various sectors mentioned above.
Economic and investment roadshows will be organized in order to seize business opportunities, while relying on the strength of the network and qualified contacts.
The two partners will set up a collaborative platform aimed at simplifying the connection of companies and project leaders with key players and investors.
On the occasion of this signature:
Jeannie Cointre, President of Famy Senegal said: "We are very proud, honored and happy with this collaboration with the CCIG to work together in a dynamic of co-construction and value creation thanks to business ecosystems between Africa and Switzerland. This partnership will make it possible to accelerate the development of certain African SMEs in Switzerland and that of certain Swiss SMEs in Africa. It is in this desire to create bridges in both directions that we are part of this beautiful project. In this context, the company Famy SN by its positioning, its history, its expertise and its knowledge of the two ecosystems is the privileged and structuring partner to carry out these exchanges and to be a major player in the co-construction between Africa and Switzerland."
Vincent Subilia, Director General of the CCIG, added: “We are very pleased with this agreement, which reinforces the role of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce as a facilitator for Geneva entrepreneurs in Africa, respectively to support African operators in Geneva. The African continent has great potential, and Geneva is positioning itself as an essential platform at the heart of Europe for African businesses, as evidenced by the holding of the World Chambers Congress 2023.”
Family SNis historically a subsidiary of the French family business which has existed since 1860. Its activities include quarrying, earthmoving, demolition and sanitation. The group had 9 sites in France and 5 sites in Africa. FAMY Senegal, which emerged from it, is now independent and present in Senegal since 2012. It has 5 local offices with a presence in Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina, and projects under study in Morocco, Guinea Conakry, Mauritania , Benin and Togo.
The Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services is an association governed by private law, independent of the State. The CCIG - founded in 1865 - aims to ensure a strong economy, allowing the players who make up the local economic fabric, and its 2,500 Member companies, in particular, to carry out their activity in a sustainable manner.