Alkagesta Marks SUISSENEGOCE 20th Anniversary in Geneva

Alkagesta, the Malta-headquartered commodity trading house, attended the twentieth anniversary celebration of SUISSENEGOCE, the Swiss Commodity Trading Association, which was staged under the big top of Circus Knie in Geneva. The company was represented by chief executive Orkhan Rustamov and chief financial officer Orkhan Zeynalli.

The evening was opened by SUISSENEGOCE president Nicolas Matter and secretary general Florence Schurch. Both looked back on two decades of growth and cooperation across the Swiss trading community, and paid tribute to the association's founders, former presidents, board members and wider membership.

Matter traced the organisation back to founders Geert Descheemaeker and Jacques-Olivier Thomann, who saw the need for Swiss commodity trading firms to address shared challenges collectively. That early effort, he said, developed into what is now regarded as a respected voice for the sector.

Schurch set out the association's work over the past twenty years, spanning representation of the sector, support for professional education, engagement with policymakers, and efforts to reinforce Switzerland's standing as a global commodity trading hub. She also pointed to the broader ecosystem that sits alongside trading companies, including banks, insurers, logistics specialists, inspection and certification firms, legal advisers, educators, recruiters and consultants.

After the speeches, guests watched a performance by the artists of Circus Knie. The celebration then continued at the Cercle des Bains in Geneva.

For Alkagesta, the appearance underlines its continued engagement with Switzerland's commodity trading community and the institutions that support it. The company trades petroleum products, fertilizers, biofuels and steel, with activity spanning more than 48 countries.