Breakfast with Isola in Geneva

The Minister for Financial Services, Albert Isola, hosted a financial services breakfast at the Four Seasons Hotel Des Bergues in Geneva earlier this week, the event being part of a Gibraltar Day in the Swiss city.

Approximately 100 professionals in the field of funds, asset management and private client work attended the event on Tuesday, including a number of related firms from the private sector in Gibraltar.

Mr Isola gave an opening address covering, amongst other things, an update on the economy and the Government's views on Brexit and financial services.

A technical session then followed with concise presentations from professionals in Gibraltar.

James Lasry from Hassans spoke about the taxation regime including high net worth tax residence, Adrian Hogg from Grant Thornton covered the funds offering and a possible dual approach post Brexit and Raymond Joubaud from VFS gave an address in French on asset management.

Philip Young from the Gibraltar Stock Exchange rounded off the session with a presentation on the listing of exchange traded and similar instruments that they offer from Gibraltar.

In addition to the technical speakers, a number of senior lawyers and accountants from Gibraltar also attended.

Mr Isola was a guest at two private dinners, separately hosted by a private bank and a prestigious Geneva law firm, as well as having a series of other meetings.

He was also interviewed on Bloomberg TV with a live link from their new Geneva headquarters.

The Minister was accompanied to Geneva by the Finance Centre Director James Tipping and Senior Executive Michael Ashton.

Maite Mir-Parody and Allison Wink, both from Gibraltar Finance, were responsible for the logistics surrounding the event on the ground.

Mr Isola said: "Geneva and Gibraltar enjoy a deep rooted relationship based on more than 30 years of doing business together. Now, more than ever, the Government wishes to encourage and cement further opportunities in financial services particularly in the light of Brexit and the fundamental values that we both share.”

“This Gibraltar Day in Geneva went extremely well and I very much look forward to returning in the future."