About us
Since time in memorial, Geneva's geographical location and accessibility have made it a preferred thoroughfare for merchandise.
In the 19th century, a place, where merchandise in transit or awaiting distribution in Switzerland could be temporarily stored, exempt from dues and taxes, was already a pressing need.
The profusion of customs barriers has begun to seriously hinder trade. The Federal Council decides to grant to the Canton of Geneva a free port concession.
The Rive Free Port is opened and a year later a second establishment on the right bank, at todays’ Mont-Blanc post office site.
The Grand Council votes for the creation of the SOCIETE D'EXPLOITATION DES PORTS FRANCS DE GENEVE S.A., direct ancestor of today's company.
The Rive Free Port is by now derelict and cannot be extended, it is gradually dismantled. The State is compelled to find new sites for the company, the warehouses at the Renfile in 1936 and the ones at the Praille in 1950.
The building project of the new Free Port at la Paille, allowing to consolidate all the company’s activities in one location, has been completed. The warehouses at Rive, Cornavin and the Renfile are abandoned.
The Free Port step up their activities in the airborne sector, by taking advantage of the construction of the Freight Terminal at Geneva’s International Airport thereby opening in the year of the company's first centenary new horizons – continued proof of renewed vitality!
