The South East Asia Office of the Directorate of Tourism and Congresses (DTC) held several promotional activities in Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, all of which enjoyed great success.
On October 9, the Monegasque delegation was hosted at the Hanoi Press Club, on October 10 at the Park Hyatt in Ho Chi Minh City, before going on to the Dharmawangsa in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 12.
Under the auspices of Guy Antognelli, Deputy Director of the DTC, and Benoit Badufle, Regional Director Asia for the DTC, these three evenings made it possible to present the Monaco destination to opinion leaders with the support of the Honorary Consuls, Alexis Delevaux in Vietnam and Princess Karlina Damiri in Indonesia.
The promotional tour continued in Singapore on Saturday, October 14, when the inaugural viewing of the “Monaco Film Festival” in Asia was held, presenting 14 films and documentaries filmed in Monaco.
Most of the films were screened at the Alliance Française de Singapour cinema, accompanied for the occasion by an exhibition presenting a selection of historical cinema posters previously unpublished in Asia.
Finally, a selection of photographs taken in May 2017 in Monaco by the magazine Vogue Taiwan, with the Asian star Lin Chi Ling, was also exhibited.
A gala evening was held on October 17 at the Capitol Theatre in Singapore, in the presence of Jean Marc Deromedi, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Singapore, Corinne Kiabski, Director of the DTC Press and Communication Department, and many Singaporean personalities. A selection of films was shown to 300 guests, including the film “Monaco Back to the Future,” presented by director Christine Oberdorff.
An ambitious communication campaign, including a website and a Facebook account, which is attracting 30,000 people a day, has been designed offering unprecedented visibility for Monaco in Asia.
Researchers in the Sargasso Sea. Photo:Monaco Explorations/Olivier Borde
Monaco has announced the signature of a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the activities of the World Heritage Marine Programme. The announcement follows an initial project earlier this year that led to the identification of potential new World Heritage marine sites in the Arctic Region.
The UNESCO World Heritage List currently includes 49 marine sites, distributed across 37 countries, recognised for their unique marine biodiversity, singular ecosystem, unique geological processes or incomparable beauty. This network includes the breeding grounds of the world’s last healthy population of grey whales, the highest density of ancestral polar-bear dens, and home of the world’s most ancient fish and the inimitable marine iguana. Their disappearance would be an irreversible loss to humanity.
The signature on November 1 reflects the willingness to support a strategic collaboration between UNESCO and the Principality of Monaco, in particular in the framework of the campaign “Monaco Explorations“.
This international and multidisciplinary initiative, launched by HSH Prince Albert earlier this year, renews Monaco’s 120-year-old tradition of scientific marine expeditions led by Prince Albert I. Throughout 2017-2020, Monaco Explorations aims to learn, understand, raise public awareness and raise action in favour of enhanced protection for the ocean.
Over three years, the Yersin, an environmentally friendly vessel that was transformed into a floating scientific laboratory, will welcome world-renowned scientists that will study coral reefs and marine species during the 20 scheduled stops across the world’s tropical oceans.
UNESCO’s World Heritage Marine Programme will add expertise and support to Monaco Explorations during stops in World Heritage marine sites that are on the Yersin’s path.
The Marine World Heritage network is expected to benefit from the new scientific findings that will be revealed throughout the three-year expedition.
UNESCO has the international mandate to oversee the State of Conservation of World Heritage sites in order to ensure their preservation and so that future generations will still be able to enjoy them.
The Monaco Explorations will also add most needed attention to the need for enhanced protection of the ocean, and as such support UNESCO’s decisions and actions in favour of our common Marine World Heritage.
Former Monaco striker Anthony Martial has been selected to play for France in two friendly matches, against Wales on November 10 and Germany on November 14. He will be joined in the squad by another star ex-Monaco forward, Kylian Mbappe, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain.
Both Thomas Lemar and Djibril Sidibé are injured, meaning that no current Monaco player has been picked to represent France.
Lemar suffered a sprained right shoulder in the away game against Besiktas, on Wednesday night, which will mean an absence for the midfielder of three or four weeks from the Monaco squad.
Lemar’s injury could also mean that he won’t be able to play in the important game against Paris Saint-Germain on November 26.
Meanwhile, Monaco coach said Leonardo Jardim after the Champions League 1-1 draw with Besiktas that he had mixed emotions after the game: “I have two distinct emotions. I’m sad about the result but very pleased with the team’s attitude.”
He also posted on the club’s Twitter account, “We played very well, we squeezed the opponent and created opportunities. The players used a lot of energy tonight and pushed themselves to the limit. That is our philosophy.”
The team also shared on Facebook Thursday that Senegalese forward Keita Baldé Diao, who signed with AS Monaco for €30million this summer, has been nominated by the Confederation of African Football for the African Player of the Year 2017. The winner will be announced on January 4, 2018.
Macron and Hollande. Photo: Facebook Élysée – Présidence de la République française
Despite good news on the economy, particularly an annual rise in GDP of 2.5 percent, French President Emmanuel Macron’s popularity is plunging, according to an opinion poll by Kantar Sofres-onepoint commissioned by le Figaro Magazine.
The President’s popularity now stands at 38 percent, down from 57 percent in June. The fall in support uncannily mirrors the shrivelling support for Macron’s predecessor, Francois Hollande, who saw his support fall from 55 to 36 percent over six months in 2012.
According to analysts, the precipitous fall in support for Macron is due to growing mistrust by right-wing supporters. The President has been strongly opposed by the political Left since before the start of his presidency. The socialist Jean-Luc Melenchon has made the epithet “President of the rich” a difficult label to shrug off.
Now, those on the political Right also feel threatened as the French government announced several tax hikes. According to the international Tax Foundation, France has introduced a number of reforms that have significantly increased marginal tax rates on work, savings, and investment. For example, France recently instituted a corporate income surtax, which joined other distortive taxes, such as the financial transactions tax, a net wealth tax, and an inheritance tax.
If his popularity continues to plunge, Macron’s election slogan, ‘Together France,’ may become a distant memory, as he continues to come under fire from left and right.
Canada celebrates its 150th birthday in 2017. Our Q&A series on Monaco’s Canadian community starts with Dr Gervais Dionne, a researcher in medicinal chemistry who developed ground-breaking anti-HIV drug
ML: Can you share some details about the town you are from in Quebec? GD: I was born in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, a village of about 3,000 inhabitants located 100km east of Quebec City, on the south shore of the Saint Laurence River. I did most of my studies in Quebec City and in Montreal, and spent most of my working life around Montreal.
Montreal is the second largest city in Canada with a population of around 4 million – versus 6 million for Toronto – and is an academic and industrial centre with four universities and several research institutes, as well as many high tech industries including aerospace, electronics, software engineering, pharmaceuticals and telecommunication.
ML: What factor contributed in your choice of becoming a chemist? GD: Early on in high school, I became very interested in the sciences, and I subscribed to “The Young Scientist” magazine and was fascinated by the world of nature sciences, the atom, molecules, the elementary and sub-particles … I got a chemistry kit as a Christmas gift from my parents. By following the guide I was able to conduct experiments, but was not able to understand what was going on. So I decided that I wanted to understand.
ML: Why did you choose research as a career? GD: Early during my chemistry studies I got a scholarship that provided me the opportunity to spend a summer in a university research laboratory. It was in professor Bernard Belleau’s laboratory at the University of Ottawa. There I interacted with researchers (PhD students and post-doctoral fellows). I was trying to understand their work and was able to witness their passion towards their research. So I decided that was what I wanted to do with my life.
ML: Why have you chosen to specialise in medicinal chemistry? GD: To design and build totally novel complex molecules is quite challenging and rewarding when the success is met. But I decided that it would be more rewarding for me to discover new molecules that would be useful to mankind, and especially that would potentially help to improve medical problems.
ML: Can you talk about your professional history? GD: I got my first University degree in chemistry from the University of Montreal, then got a PhD in medicinal chemistry from Laval University in Quebec City, and then got a two-year scholarship as a post-doctoral fellow in a pharmaceutical company. I was hired by that company (Ayerst Laboratories) in Montreal as a Senior Researcher. There I conducted research projects in the field of cardiovascular and CNS (Central Nervous System).
ML: You discovered a new anti-HIV treatment, with fellow researchers Francesco Bellini and Bernard Belleau. Can you tell us about the drug-development company you formed with these two gentlemen, and your work on the anti-AIDS drug 3TC? GD: In 1984, Ayerst Laboratories, an American company (which is now part of Pfizer pharmaceutical) decided to concentrate its research activities in the US. We were invited to move to New Jersey.
Among others, one of my colleagues, Francesco Bellini, and I decided not to move. Francesco Bellini, Bernard Belleau (then at McGill University) shared the same dream: to build an innovative research Canadian-based pharmaceutical company. The company was established in 1986 under the name of IAF BioChem International Inc, which became BioChem Pharma Inc.
Early on we decided to work on HIV infection/AIDS. It was a new disease and there was no satisfactory treatment. We were not too late to enter into the race. The first and only treatment was AZT (which was approved in 1987). AZT treatment was less than satisfactory because of poor efficacy and severe side effects.
We started a research program in 1987 aimed at discovering a molecule that would be at least as potent or more potent than AZT but without the nasty side effects. Bernard Belleau had a genius idea about a totally novel type of molecule. We decided to follow that path and in 1989 we found one molecule that was more potent in the test tube against HIV compared to AZT, but, more importantly, the molecule had very little toxicity compared to AZT or compared to other compounds, which were in development around the world at that time.
Because of the power of HIV and the rapid development of resistance it became obvious that the use of one drug would not be sufficient and in order to be successful one would need to use a combination therapy. After the evaluation of many combinations, the most promising results in test tube were obtained when AZT and 3TC were used together. A synergy of potency was observed and the development of resistances to the agents was delayed significantly. These results led us and our partner, Glaxo, to initiate large worldwide clinical trials. The results, which were astonishing, were released at the International AIDS Conference in Glasgow in November 1994.
The levels of the virus in blood cells of patients were reduced by 99% after one year of treatment with 3TC+AZT, compared with AZT monotherapy where the levels of the virus in the blood was reduced only by 11% after 6 months and 0% after a year. These results were a milestone in HIV treatment and confirmed that combination therapy was the way forward to keep the HIV at bay and thus changed the way HIV infection and AIDS was treated. 3TC was approved by the FDA in November 1995 and positioned itself as the cornerstone for the development of combination therapy.
Later, outstanding clinical trial results were obtained with the combination 3TC+AZT+IDV (Indinavir, a protease inhibitor developed by Merck). Levels of virus in blood cells of patients were reduced by 99.9%. This was another milestone; the beginning of tri-therapy, which is still today the standard of care for HIV infected/AIDS patients.
ML: How did this drug differ from others available? GD: Like all other anti-HIV drugs 3TC targets a key enzyme of HIV, which is essential for its replication.
What makes 3TC unique is its “non-natural” chemical structure. Because of its “non-natural” structure 3TC does not affect human cells and is devoid of any side effect. So it can be combined with other anti-HIV drugs without additive toxicity.
Also, when mutation against 3TC develops, the resulting mutant virus is impaired, it does not replicate as rapidly and become more susceptible to other agents in the combination therapy.
ML: At what point during the research process did you realise that you had made a major discovery? GD: The first event was in 1989 when the US National Cancer Institute (a division of the US National Institute of Health) conducted a comparative evaluation of all the anti-HIV molecules in development around the world, and concluded the 3TC was the most promising one, and was chosen for a collaboration between our two respective organisations. This, of course, was based on in vitro (test tube) results and there were a lot of unknowns in this early stage of development.
The second event was November 1994, with the results of the 3TC+AZT combination. Then we realised that this would make a huge difference for people living with HIV/AIDS.
ML: Can you describe the feeling of such a medical finding, that contributes to saving lives? GD: The best reward in my life was when I met with patients who told me that when they were on AZT they were very sick in a hospital bed and had no hope, but under 3TC combination therapy they were back home, living an almost normal life, going to restaurants, cinema, travelling …
ML: How has the treatment of AIDS advanced since the eighties? GD: The early tri-therapies were complex and difficult to take (many pills three times per day). Today tri-therapies are very simple: one pill once per day.
ML: What path did you take after this? What other projects have you been involved in? GD: In 2004, I started another company with a BioChem Pharma colleague (Francois Legault) for the financial side of the operation. The company was ViroChem Pharma and we were conducting research in HIV, but mostly in Hepatitis C. Our team discovered several potent anti-HCV compounds, and one of them proved to be very powerful against the Hepatitis C virus in humans. The results attracted a lot of attention and interest in the industry and an American company acquired ViroChem Pharma in 2009.
ML: How did you end up in Monaco, and what do you appreciate about calling Monaco home? GD: During our travels we enjoyed the Mediterranean “joie de vivre”. We initially moved to the South of France, but we learned more about Monaco and were particularly attracted by Monaco’s cultural life and multiculturalism that we were used to in Montreal. So, we moved to Monaco last November. We are in the middle of our integration in Monaco so it is too early for us to consider Monaco as “home”. But I am sure that we will rapidly feel at home in this great place.
ML: What do you miss about Canada? Do you socialise with Canadians? GD: We have kept a country chalet in Canada and return every summer for two months to enjoy the Laurentide forest, lakes, rivers and wildlife.
ML: What does it mean to you to be Canadian? GD: To be open and tolerant of others and proud to be from a country that often takes the position as a peacekeeper.
ML: Why are Canadians unique? GD: Canadian culture is a mixture of British, French and American influences. Although French and English share official language status, Canada is very diverse, historically and ethnically. There is no single national culture: the melting pot of the neighbouring US is translated in Canada as something of a stew. Immigrants have both integrated into Canadian daily life, but continued to maintain some unique element of their ancestral homeland.
Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Monaco at l’Orangerie. Photo: Monaco Life
On Tuesday, the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Monaco (Les Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises de Monaco, or ACFEM) were guests of Philip Cullazo at L’Orangerie for an introduction to the Monaco Spritz.
A dozen women in various fields, from Monte Carlo Beauty skincare to Cicolella olive oil, came to the atelier at 9 rue de la Turbie to learn about the only made in Monaco orange liqueur, which uses 600 bitter orange trees from avenue Grande-Bretagne, and boulevards Suisse, Italie and Moulins.
Philip Culazzo’s l’Orangerie liqueur is 100% made in Monaco. Photo: Monaco LifeAssociation of Women Entrepreneurs of Monaco at l’Orangerie. Photo: Monaco Life
After a tour of the premises by Mr Cullazo, the group enthusiastically sampled the Monaco Spritz – a combination of L’Orangerie, Prosecco and orange zest.
Held on the third Tuesday of each month, ACFEM’s networking evenings from 6:30 pm to 8 pm bring together female business entrepreneurs in Monaco who are not only involved in the economic life of the Principality but who also actively help to promote its business development. Different themes, which can be in English or French, include seminars on inheritance (September 21) or cybersecurity (October 19).
“ACFEM has around 50 members of various nationalities,” Secretary General Caterina Reviglio Sonnino told Monaco Life, “and we welcome any woman that is an owner or manager of a Monaco business that is registered with the Expansion Économique.”
ACFEM’s Vice-President Cinzia Cicolella and Secretary General Caterina Reviglio Sonnino. Photo: Monaco LifeAnne-Marie Noir, Founder Asepta. Photo: Monaco Life
In addition to Thursday night gatherings, the non-profit organisation has a meeting over the lunch hour on the first Tuesday of the month at the Maison des Associations to discuss, amongst other subjects, how to defend the rights and interests of women in business and how to promote the network of women entrepreneurs in the Principality.
The Association of Women Entrepreneurs was first launched in France in 1945 by Yvonne Foinant to offer solidarity and friendship for women entrepreneurs, and the network has since expanded to 40 countries on five continents.
The Monaco branch of World Association of Women Entrepreneurs was created on July 15, 2004, under the impetus of the Chamber of Economic Development of Monaco (CDE), which two years ago became the Monaco Economic Board. Its first president was Elisabeth Ritter Moati. Today Hilde Heye Haneuse holds that title.
