JCC kicks off 2026 with a roundtable on global and regional risks

To kick off 2026, Joint Chamber of Commerce Switzerland-Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus JCC held its first event of the year: the JCC 2026 Kick-Off Business Lunch, organised in partnership with Switzerland Global Enterprise (SGE) and Control Risks.

Under the theme “Global Risk Outlook 2026: Prospects for Central Asia and the South Caucasus?”, the event brought together members and partners to discuss how companies can reassess risk exposure, supply chains, market entry strategies, and growth priorities for the year ahead.

We were pleased to open the session with welcome remarks from Xavier Cornut (SGE) and Dorit Sallis (JCC), who also moderated the discussion.

Philip Mirande LL.M., Head of the Geneva Office, Control Risks introduced the firm’s services, followed by Patrick Sewell, Consultant on the CIS region, who offered an in-depth analysis:

♻️ Global business risks and opportunities in 2026

♻️ High-potential markets in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus

♻️ The future of the Middle Corridor / Trans-Caspian Trade Route

♻️ The region’s evolving role in global trade and investment strategies

Following the regional risk analysis, H.E. Mr. Kairat Sarzhanov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Switzerland, provided an overview of priority sectors under development in Kazakhstan and highlighted opportunities for Swiss companies in the market.

The event concluded with a lively networking business lunch, offering an excellent opportunity to exchange perspectives and build new connections.

Thank you to all speakers and participants for making this a strong start to 2026.