Impact of war on Swiss companies, focus of information session for members

The war in Ukraine and consequent regime of extreme and far-reaching sanctions from the West presents Swiss companies with an unprecedented set of circumstances within which they must operate. Those in Ukraine face the human and operational costs of war. Swiss companies doing business in Russia face the impact of deep and all-encompassing sanctions.

The information session organized by JCC in partnership with SGE on March 9, 2022 was an attempt to clarify the issues confronting companies doing business in both countries. The webinar moderated by Dorit Sallis, Director, JCC opened with welcomes from Andreas Bitzi, Chair, JCC Russia Chapter & JCC Board Member; CEO, Quality Partners Russia and Thomas Först, Head of Global Network, Member of the Executive Committee, Switzerland Global Enterprise (SGE). The Revised Ordinance on Measures Connected with the Situation in Ukraine was presented by Lukas Regli, Deputy Head of Sanctions, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Juergen Boehler-Royett Marcano, Head of Export Controls/Industrial Products, SECO.
Vasily Ermolin, Partner, ADVANT Beiten Moscow presented sanctions introduced in Russia while Dr. Julian Ries, Senior Partner, Integrites Germany discussed the challenges companies in Ukraine face. The final presentation was by Nicholas Bentley, Head Legal Trade Sanctions, Novartis Pharma Services AG, Basel who explained how Novartis manages compliance within a sanctions regime.

The webinar offered JCC and SGE members operating in Ukraine, Russia and the region the chance to learn from each other and assist one another by sharing experiences, best practices and useful advice in this harrowing and tragic time.