Day: 12 March 2019

The Monaco Economic Board (MEB) has strengthened business links with Slovakia, hosting more than 80 meetings with delegates and finishing with a visit to the new MonacoTech incubator.

On Tuesday 5th March at the Meridien Beach Plaza hotel, the MEB and its Monaco Chamber of Commerce department hosted a delegation of entrepreneurs and institutions from Slovakia, led by the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the promotional and development body SARIO. The event was attended by Igor Slobodnik, Slovakian Ambassador for France and Monaco, and provided further confirmation of the close business ties being forged between the two countries since the Trade Mission organised by the MEB to Bratislava in 2017.           

The event began with bilateral presentations from both sides, giving delegates a better understanding of the macro-economics and characteristics of each country.

With a population of 5.4 million, GDP growth above 3% in recent years and an unemployment rate dropping steadily since 2013, Slovakia is enjoying a particularly favourable business climate. Although the economy is dominated by the automobile industry, other sectors are performing well including machinery and tools, electronics and ICT.

The delegation visiting Monaco represented a variety of sectors which meant the MEB, working closely with its Slovak counterparts, were able to organise a rewarding B2B session with more than 80 meetings set up for the 14 Slovak entities present. Their discussions continued in the more informal networking lunch which followed, and the day ended with a visit to the Principality’s incubator-accelerator MonacoTech.

The event strengthens relations that were forged since an Ambassador’s Lunch in 2013 with Marek Estok that was attended by Slovakia’s Minister of Economy, Mr Malatinsky. In 2015, at the opening of Slovakia’s Consulate in Monaco in 2015, the first agreement was signed with the Slovak CCI. Then in 2017, to mark the 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the MEB seized the opportunity of an official visit by Prince Albert II to Slovakia to organise a Trade Mission during which a second partnership agreement was signed at the end of a highly successful visit.

The year 2019 marks a new phase. Peter Mihok, Chairman of the Slovak CCI and also Honorary Chairman of the World Chambers Federation to which the MEB is affiliated, praised the team spirit that was behind preparations for this meeting. MEB Chairman Michel Dotta added: “We are heading in the right direction; together Slovakia and the Principality have real potential to help our respective companies grow their business on the international stage”.

The concept of urban agriculture is sweeping across the globe, as major cities embrace not only the health and environmental benefits of gardening in a concrete landscape, but also the therapeutic spin-offs. Monaco is one such destination, thanks to the likes of Jessica Sbaraglia, who is infectiously passionate about bringing bountiful gardens to balconies and rooftops throughout the Principality. And the results so far? Well, take a look for yourself.

Terre de Monaco was created in 2016 by Jessica Sbaraglia to bring urban agriculture to the open grounds and rooftops in Monaco, particularly fruit and vegetable gardens that share the values ​​of organics and permaculture.

So what is permaculture?

While conventional gardening tends to use a one-size-fits all method for growing food, permaculture is based on the concept of using perfect plants for the land, the climate, and each other. For example, says Jessica, basil has a smell that repels the pests that attack tomatoes. If you are planting lettuce and eggplant together, lettuce has a shorter crop life and when harvested will not interfere with the growth of eggplants. You can then have two crops on one piece of land.

This method also advocates cultural diversity, respect for the seasons, and obviously cultivation without the use of pesticides.

But why you Jessica?

“Four years ago, I was asking myself existential questions about life, when I visited my parents in Switzerland and their family vegetable garden which they were lovingly cultivating. It is thanks to them that I know the true taste of untreated vegetables that have matured fully and naturally. I realised that the earth not only brought me food, but took care of me. The act of gardening is soothing and meditative, it’s like recognising a part of your ancestral yourself.

Starting Terre de Monaco was difficult, like any pioneering project, but when we find what drives us, we obviously do not give up at the first hurdle.”

And this is what Terre de Monaco has achieved to date:

Currently in Monaco, they operate 1,600m2 of market gardening which produced around 2.5 tons of vegetables last year alone.

“Who would have thought it?” laughs Jessica, “A tiny country of two square kilometres, of which 80% is concrete, and which hasn’t really experienced agriculture for 150 years!”

“We grow mostly ‘old’ or ‘forgotten’ vegetables, ones that we do not necessarily see in markets these days as they are often less productive, but very tasty. It is important for us to find diversity on the plate and thereby safeguard the inheritance of seeds.”

Gardens can be custom made for individuals (-100m2) for a private or corporate balcony, with advice and plants available for any time of year. For example, Terre de Monaco maintains a 30m2 vegetable garden at the Prince Albert II Foundation Monaco, and employees get to enjoy the vegetables.

In addition, there is:

– a 400 m2 garden at the Monte-Carlo Bay hotel, where the vegetables are used in the gastronomic Blue Bay restaurant,

– a 250 m2 garden at the Princess Grace Hospital of Monaco, where the vegetables are used for the hospital kitchen,

– a 450m2 garden at the Odeon tower, as well as 50 hens and 10 bee hives, with all produce going to the residents of the tower,

– and a 500m2 garden on the roof of Ruscino, where the produce is sold to people in the building.

But there’s more…

There are 10 schools in Monaco offering cultivation courses as well as class outings to vegetable gardens, thanks to Terre de Monaco. “It is important to transmit this information to children,” says Jessica, “so that they are aware of the origins and taste of their food.”

As an urban farmer, they participate in the recycling of straw bales after the Monaco Jumping event, they utilise tortoise manure from the Oceanographic Museum, and they even re-use wooden wine crates as portable vegetable gardens.

In early 2019, the started working with the psychiatric ward at the Princess Grace Hospital introducing a therapeutic kitchen garden for teens in trouble. “The results are very positive, and we love to see their evolution,” smiles Jessica.

“As you know, urban agriculture is an ecosystem with multiple functions that can affect many people,” Jessica says in summary. “We hope to contribute to the health of people’s stomachs and their psyche, while respecting our planet. It’s a common sense philosophy that can be applied at home, because it is simply land, and it’s time to start caring!”

A National Plan to House Monegasques has been officially launched by Prince Albert II. The ambitious project means that over the next 15 years, the number of state-owned apartments will almost double in the Principality.

The plan, titled Plan national pour le logement des Monégasques, was launched at the Ministry of State on Monday 11th March in the presence of Minister of State Serge Telle and Stéphane Valeri, President of the National Council. It follows an announcement by Prince Albert on Monaco’s National Day in November.

“Housing Monegasques is, for me, a national cause, an absolute priority,” said the Prince. “My Government has worked consistently for years on this.”

The Minister of State detailed the various aspects of the ambitious plan, which will increase by 43% the number of state housing apartments by the year 2034 to reach 4,548. “Our ambition is to allow more than three quarters of households an opportunity to have a state-owned apartment, with the aim of meeting everyone’s needs,” said Serge Telle, who described it as an “historic moment for the Principality.”

Statistics institute IMSEE predicts that the number of Monegasques will increase from 9,300 currently to around 10,770 in 2033.

The objective is to meet, on the basis of in-depth studies by IMSEE, the forseeable needs of the Monegasque population in the next 15 years.

The first stage will form part of operations already approved by the National Council in the 2019 Budget – extending blocks at the Jardins d’Apolline. The additional figure will equate to an average of 122 new apartments per year.

A special concert will be held this weekend in the  Saint-Charles church to raise funds for a girls school in Iraq.

Organised by the diocese, the concert will take place on Saturday 30^th March at 8pm and feature three Neapolitan tenors from the Monte-Carlo Opera accompanied by Pauline Descharmes, concert pianist and teacher at the Rainier III Academy of Music.

It is an ideal concert for those who love the charm of great Neapolitan music, and the audience can expect to hear classics like O sole mio, Torna a Surriento, Funiculì funiculà and many more.

Entrance is free, and donations are encouraged. Everyone is welcome to come and join in! Money raised will go towards equipping a Christian girls’ school in Kirkuk, Iraq.